By Lonnie Turner
The Dillon Kiwanis 2012 Dixie Youth Baseball season is winding down with just two games remaining for each of the five Major League teams. Because of the State Championship Dillon High School Girls Softball game and rain during the week of May 7 through May 11, the season has been extended through this coming week.
The Physicians Healthcare Pirates (14-1) won the Minor League Championship last week, but the remainder of the teams will be competing on Monday, Thursday and Friday to determine the 2013 draft order. In games this week, the McLeod Health Marlins (11-4) were scheduled to play the Pepsi-Cola Blue Jays (4-10) on Monday, while tonight the Burger King Braves (5-10) will play the True Value Tigers (3-12) and Pepsi-Cola will take on the Champion Pirates.
Following the final on Friday, individual Championship trophies, the team Championship Cup, and Jason Blum “Never Say Quit” award will be presented.
In the Major League, the defending 2011 Champion Dillon Family Dental Giants (11-3) have a two-game lead over the second place Cotton’s Grocery Reds (9-5) with two games remaining on the schedule. In the split season format, which was begun a few years ago, the first half champion plays the second half champs in a best of three series, unless the same team wins both halves.
With the two games remaining for each team, the Giants (5-1 in the second half) are the first half champions and hold a one-game lead over the Cotton’s Grocery Reds (4-2, in the second half) and a two-game lead over the Dillon Internal Medicine Hurricanes (3-3) and Justice Rangers (3-3). The schedule for Monday features the Hurricanes playing the Rangers, and on Thursday, the Rangers battle the Reds, while the Giants go against the B.B. Yankees.
On Friday, the Hurricanes play the Yankees and the season ends when the Reds meet the Giants in what could determine the championship. Sound confusing? Well it is, and it means there should be some great games as the regular season comes to a close.
