By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
From pitching machine to Babe Ruth League, state tournaments open across the state today.
Several Forrest City youth teams are involved in the action and for the next several days will be scattered in many directions.
Two Forrest City Minor League (pitching machine) teams will join more than 40 others in the central part of the state at Sylvan Hills for the Arkansas South Cal Ripken pitching machine state tournament for 7-8-year-olds.
The 13-year-old Junior Babe Ruth All-Stars, who spent last weekend at the District 7 Tournament in Pine Bluff, will return to the city once again as the 13-year-old state tournament gets under way at Taylor Field.
The Forrest City 11-year-old All-Stars will head south to El Dorado this afternoon to begin play in the 32-team Cal Ripken 11-year-old state tournament.
The team will open play Friday morning against Cabot.
A win brings the team back on Saturday at 3 p.m. to face the Hot Springs/LRock Junior Deputy winner.
A first-round loss brings Forrest City back at 12 noon Saturday to face the Hot Springs/Junior Deputy loser.
In Sylvan Hills, the 46-team state pitching machine tournament gets under way this afternoon at the Kevin McReynolds Sports Complex.
Forrest City once again send two representatives to Sylvan Hills.
Tommy Hanner and Joey Smith are coaching the two Forrest City teams.
Forrest City No. 1 is coached by Hanner and includes 10 players from his regular season league team T&J Properties, which won the league with a 14-0 record.
The T&J players are Colin Love, Joewaan Mitchell, Delan Parkman, Jacob Siler, Tyrin White, Reed Wingo, Daniel Davenport, Andre Dulaney, Barlow Herbert and Matt Jumper. Kendall Lee, James Alldredge and Scott Gracey complete the team.
Hanner's team will see first action on Friday, after receiving a first-round bye.
Forrest City No. 1 plays at 10 a.m. Friday against the Lakewood/Marion winner.
Forrest City No. 2 is coached by Smith and includes four players from his league team Joey's Muffler -- Dusty Smith, Michael Ludwig, Jarrod Wright and LaLoyd Hamilton. Ryan Green, A.J. Martin, Jordan Chatters, Matthew Vaughn, Cory Leslie, Austin Kennedy, Corey Robichaud, James Pendergrass, Matt Lansford and Jacob Tittle round out the squad.
Smith's team plays today at 6:45 p.m. against Beebe (Whatley).
The 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars will open play Friday at the state tournament against Monticello at 1 p.m. at Taylor Field.
The team is being coached by Jeff Turner and is comprised of Blake Davis, Kenny Norman, Kellon Bowman, Kentrell Buchanan, Michael King, Torey Rogers, Larry Bean, D.J. Crowell, Adam Moody, Wilson Parker, Justin Ross, William Mitchell and Terrance Pendleton.
East Arkansas Community College will hold a fast-pitch girls' softball camp, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 29-31, at the EACC baseball field.
The camp will be held in two sessions -- youths ages 6-8 will attend from 9.m. until 12 noon and youths ages 9-12 will attend from 1 until 4 p.m.
The camp will be staffed by Dulin's Sports Academy of Memphis.
Cost per camper is $85 and the deadline to register is July 26.
For more information, call 633-4480 ext. 261 or 333.
* CITY LEAGUES
Adult Softball
Thursday, July 11
Kerby's vs Barnes, 7 p.m. F3
M&T Paving vs Bulldogs, 7 p.m. F4
Morgan vs Boar's Head, 8 p.m. F3
Greg's vs Young Guns, 8 p.m. F4
Miller Ins. vs Gym 2000, 9 p.m. F3
TSM Computers vs Sanyo, 9 p.m. F4
Youth Baseball
Arkansas South Cal Ripken Pitching Machine State Tournament at Sylvan Hills
Thursday, July 11
Hermatage vs Clarendon, 5 p.m. F2
Vilonia vs England, 5 p.m. F3
Beebe vs DeWitt, 5 p.m. F4
Lakewood vs Marion, 5 p.m. F5
PB International vs Maumelle, 5 p.m. F6
Pottsville vs Dumas, 5 p.m. F7
Hot Springs vs Star City, 6:45 p.m. F2
Sylvan Hills vs Russellville (Hipps), 6:45 p.m. F3
Sheridan vs Russellville (Phillips) 6:45 p.m. F4
Marion (Williams) vs Cabot, 6:45 p.m. F5
Beebe (Whatley) vs Forrest City (Smith) 6:45 p.m. F6
LR Junior Deputy (Rowen) vs South Ark, 6:45 p.m. F7
Magnolia - Bye
Vilonia (McBay) vs Lake Village, 8:30 p.m. F3
Monticello vs Sylvan Hills (Boyd), 8:30 p.m. F4
Wynne vs Star City (Towers), 8:30 p.m. F5