Tracy Williamson crosses the plate head-first during Fairfield County Rec’s 6-5 extra-inning win over Restoration Outreach Center in the July 17 Junior League title game in Newberry. (Photo/Barry Gilbert)
NEWBERRY – During the school year, when crosstown rivals Fairfield Central and Richard Winn Academy meet on the baseball diamond, each team battles to be the dominate team in the county. This past spring, their four meetings ended in a tie at 2-2, with neither team claiming bragging rights.
During the last couple of summers, however, players from these two teams have united to prove the overall dominance of Fairfield County’s baseball programs. Competing in the Junior League Baseball program sponsored by the city of Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the seven teams played one and two games per week, beginning on June 1 and going through July 10. Those games were either played at Newberry High School or Newberry College. The tournament playoffs and championship game was played the week of July 13-17.
Fairfield County’s hard ball team made it all the way through the eight game regular season and tournament playoffs undefeated to claim the championship title for the second year in a row. They defeated Restoration Outreach Center’s squad, 6-5, in an extra inning classic to be claim the back-to-back championship title. Stanley McManus pitched through five and 2/3 innings, and Tigger Jackson closed out the victory.
Fairfield County’s team was sponsored by the Fairfield County Recreation Center. The championship team included Tracy Williamson, CJ Simmons, Stanley “Monk” McManus, Coker Gilbert, Peyton Gilbert, Antonio “Tigger” Jackson, BJ Smith, Tydarius Young, Dylan Curtz, Jordan Dove, Ross Truesdale and Taylor Truesdale. Mike Moore served as head coach and Jay Christy acted as the assistant coach of this 11-man roster.
