By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Giffin's Grins was awarded a first-round "bye" at the upcoming Girls' Class C 12-Under Fast-Pitch State Softball Tournament, which means the team won't have to play until Saturday.
The 22-team tournament begins Friday at Bentonville. Giffin's, the second-place team in the Forrest City 12-under fast-pitch league, advanced directly to the state tournament, since there was no district qualifying tournament for the 12-under age groups.
Giffin's, coached by Clyde Chism, will open play Saturday at 11 a.m., against the winner of Friday's first-round game between the Fayetteville Sluggers and the Lakers.
A win brings Giffin's back Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Dr. St. John will open play in the 16-Under Class C fast-pitch state tournament on Friday when they take on the Gators at 7 p.m., at Sherwood's Kevin McReynolds Complex.
The 18-team, 16-under tournament was originally set to be played at North Little Rock's Burns' Park, but was moved this week to the Sherwood complex.
All state softball tournaments, both slow and fast pitch, will be played this weekend at various sites across the state.
Taylor-Casbeer finished the Forrest City youth baseball season with a 12-2 record to win the Minor (pitching machine) League. The team members are Charles Anderson, Akeem Bogart, Josh Brock, LScott Bryant, Danarius Fingers, Tyler McElroy, Brian Morgan, Trenton Neely, Josh Rodgers, Ladarius Townsend and Zach Trail. The team was coached by Rusty Trail and King Casbeer.
Forrest City Junior Babe Ruth team Fred's completed a 12-0 season this year to win the city league's title. Team members are Oskar Brown, Chris Autry, Ramsey Gibson, Terrance Ware, Fred Walker, Milton Joyner, Brad Moore, Richard Flenoy, Kevin Padilla, Justin McKissick, Carl Brown and Kyle Metcalf. The team was coached by Mark Sanders and Bo Padilla.