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OFFICIAL PAIRINGS FOR 2010 WORLD SERIES
DARLINGS @ DENISON, TEXAS
1ST ROUND – JULY 31
GAME 1: EAST CENTRAL, MS & TURBEVILLE, SC
GAME 2: MADISON CENTRAL, TN & HOLMES COUNTY, FL
GAME 3: JONES COUNTY NATIONAL, GA & HALIFAX AMERICAN, VA
GAME 4: HOPKINS COUNTY AMERICAN, TX & WINNSBORO, LA
GAME 5: WEST STANLY, NC & HARTSELLE, AL
2ND ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 6: DENISON, TX (HOST) & WINNER GAME 1
GAME 7: LOSER GAME 4 & LOSER GAME 5
GAME 8: LOSER GAME 1 & LOSER GAME 2
GAME 9: WINNER GAME 4 & WINNER GAME 5
GAME 10: WINNER GAME 2 & WINNER GAME 3
3RD ROUND – AUGUST 2
GAME 11: LOSER GAME 3 & LOSER GAME 9
GAME 12: LOSER GAME 6 & LOSER GAME 10
GAME 13: WINNER GAME 7 & WINNER GAME 8
GAME 14: WINNER GAME 6 & WINNER GAME 10
4TH ROUND – AUGUST 3
GAME 15: WINNER GAME 13 & LOSER GAME 14
GAME 16: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
GAME 17: WINNER GAME 9 & WINNER GAME 14
5TH ROUND – AUGUST 4
GAME 18: WINNER GAME 16 & LOSER GAME 17
GAME 19: WINNER GAME 15 & WINNER GAME 17
6TH ROUND – AUGUST 5
TBA (Depends on results of 5th Round)
ANGELS @ VANCLEAVE, MISSISSIPPI
1ST ROUND – JULY 31
GAME 1: SAND MOUNTAIN NATIONAL, AL & HANAHAN, SC
GAME 2: DUNN, NC & MADISON CENTRAL, TN
GAME 3: VANCLEAVE, MS (HOST) & JONES COUNTY, NATIONAL, GA
GAME 4: SPRING HILL, FL & HALIFAX AMERICAN, VA
>P>GAME 5: PONCHATOULA, LA & CROSBY, TX
2ND ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 6: EAST CENTRAL, MS & WINNER GAME 1
GAME 7: LOSER GAME 4 & LOSER GAME 5
GAME 8: LOSER GAME 1 & LOSER GAME 2
GAME 9: WINNER GAME 4 & WINNER GAME 5
GAME 10: WINNER GAME 2 & WINNER GAME 3
3RD ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 11: LOSER GAME 3 & LOSER GAME 9
GAME 12: LOSER GAME 6 & LOSER GAME 10
GAME 13: WINNER GAME 7 & WINNER GAME 8
GAME 14: WINNER GAME 6 & WINNER GAME 10
4TH ROUND – AUGUST 2
GAME 15: WINNER GAME 13 & LOSER GAME 14
GAME 16: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
GAME 17: WINNER GAME 9 & WINNER GAME 14
5TH ROUND – AUGUST 3
GAME 18: WINNER GAME 16 & LOSER GAME 17
GAME 19: WINNER GAME 15 & WINNER GAME 17
6TH ROUND – AUGUST 4
TBA (Depends on results of 5th Round)
PONYTAILS @ COLUMBIA COUNTY, GEORGIA
1ST ROUND – JULY 31
GAME 1: YAZOO CITY, MS & BURGAW, NC
GAME 2: McEWEN, TN & MONTGOMERY AMERICAN, AL
GAME 3: SPRING HILL, FL & SUMTER, SC
GAME 4: COLUMBIA COUNTY, GA (HOST) & CROSBY, TX
GAME 5: WHITFIELD COUNTY NATIONAL, GA & SOUTH HILL, VA
2ND ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 6: SAVINE, LA & WINNER GAME 1
GAME 7: LOSER GAME 4 & LOSER GAME 5
GAME 8: LOSER GAME 1 & LOSER GAME 2
GAME 9: WINNER GAME 4 & WINNER GAME 5
GAME 10: WINNER GAME 2 & WINNER GAME 3
3RD ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 11: LOSER GAME 3 & LOSER GAME 9
GAME 12: LOSER GAME 6 & LOSER GAME 10
GAME 13: WINNER GAME 7 & WINNER GAME 8
GAME 14: WINNER GAME 6 & WINNER GAME 10
4TH ROUND – AUGUST 2
GAME 15: WINNER GAME 13 & LOSER GAME 14
GAME 16: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
GAME 17: WINNER GAME 9 & WINNER GAME 14
5TH ROUND – AUGUST 3
GAME 18: WINNER GAME 16 & LOSER GAME 17
GAME 19: WINNER GAME 15 & WINNER GAME 17
6TH ROUND – AUGUST 4
TBA (Depends on results of 5th Round)
BELLES @ PINEVILLE, LOUISIANA
1ST ROUND – JULY 31
GAME 1: BELLEVIEW, FL & CHARLOTTE COUNTY, VA
GAME 2: ALEXANDRIA NAITONAL, LA & UNION COUNTY, SC
GAME 3: LAFAYETTE COUNTY, AR & MAGEE, MS
GAME 4: HARTSELLE, AL & EAST COLUMBIA, NC
GAME 5: PINEVILLE, LA (HOST) & JASPER COUNTY, GA
GAME 6: DYERSBURG/DYER COUNTY, TN & BLOSSOM, TX
2ND ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 7: LOSER GAME 1 & LOSER GAME 2
GAME 8: LOSER GAME 3 & LOSER GAME 4
GAME 9: LOSER GAME 5 & LOSER GAME 6
GAME 10: WINNER GAME 5 & WINNER GAME 6
GAME 11: WINNER GAME 3 & WINNER GAME 4
GAME 12: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
3RD ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 13: WINNER GAME 8 & WINNER GAME 9
GAME 14: WINNER GAME 7 & LOSER GAME 11
GAME 15: LOSER GAME 10 & LOSER GAME 12
GAME 16: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
4TH ROUND – AUGUST 2
GAME 17: WINNER GAME 13 & WINNER GAME 14
GAME 18: WINNER GAME 15 & LOSER GAME 16
GAME 19: WINNER GAME 10 & WINNER GAME 16
5TH ROUND – AUGUST 3
GAME 20: WINNER GAME 18 & LOSER GAME 19
GAME 21: WINNER GAME 17 & WINNER GAME 19
6TH ROUND – AUGUST 4
TBA (Depends on results of 5th Round)
DEBS @ VANCLEAVE, MISSISSIPPI
1ST ROUND – JULY 31
GAME 1: DECATUR, AL & GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC
GAME 2: SPRING HILL, FL & VANCLEAVE, MS (HOST)
GAME 3: ST. MARTIN, MS & SOUTH STANLY, NC
GAME 4: HOPKINS COUNTY AMERICAN, TX & McEWEN, TN
GAME 5: HALIFAX AMERICAN, VA & ALEXANDRIA NATIONAL, LA
2ND ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 6: HORATIO, AR & WINNER GAME 1
GAME 7: LOSER GAME 4 & LOSER GAME 5
GAME 8: LOSER GAME 1 & LOSER GAME 2
GAME 9: WINNER GAME 4 & WINNER GAME 5
GAME 10: WINNER GAME 2 & WINNER GAME 3
3RD ROUND – AUGUST 1
GAME 11: LOSER GAME 3 & LOSER GAME 9
GAME 12: LOSER GAME 6 & LOSER GAME 10
GAME 13: WINNER GAME 7 & WINNER GAME 8
GAME 14: WINNER GAME 6 & WINNER GAME 10
4TH ROUND – AUGUST 2
GAME 15: WINNER GAME 13 & LOSER GAME 14
GAME 16: WINNER GAME 11 & WINNER GAME 12
GAME 17: WINNER GAME 9 & WINNER GAME 14
5TH ROUND – AUGUST 3
GAME 18: WINNER GAME 16 & LOSER GAME 17
GAME 19: WINNER GAME 15 & WINNER GAME 17
6TH ROUND – AUGUST 4
TBA (Depends on results of 5th Round)
MATTINGLY BATS ARE APPROVED BATS FOR 2010 DIXIE SOFTBALL PLAY. Due to recent changes in our website Dixie Softball is not able to list Mattingly Bats in the bucket drop down section of this website. We are working on that problem. Our apologizes to Mattingly Bats.
Diamond Sports, AD Starr and JP Sports placed bids to be the official Dixie Softball tournament softball for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons. JP Sports placed the winning bid. JP Sports will be the official softball but other softballl manufacturers may approved to be named official softball for regular season play for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.
HARTSVILLE AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND POWHATAN, VIRGINIA PLACE BIDS OF INTENT FOR 2012 WORLD SERIES!
Hartsville, South Carolina was the only league to place an intent to bid for the 2012 Dixie Ponytails World Series. Plans are being made now for an inspection visit to Hartsville.
Georgetown County, South Carolina was the only league to place an intent to bid for the 2012 Dixie Darlings World Series. Plans are being made now for an inspection visit to Georgetown County.
Georgetown County, South Carolina and Powhatan, Virginia both placed intents to bid for the 2012 Dixie Angels World Series. Plans are being made now for an inspection to Georgetown County and Powhatan.
Powhatan, Virginia was the only league to place intents to bid for the Dixie Belles and Debs World SEries. Plans are being made now for an inspection visit to Powhatan.
2010 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Doug Garrett, chairman of the Dixie Softball, Inc. Scholarship Committee, has announced the winners of the 2010 Dixie Softball scholarship. They are:
- FRANK L. BAXTER SCHOLARSHIP - ELIZABETH "CORI" ALLEN of Mize, MS;
- R. T. ADAMS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - JULIA ALYSSA WHITE of Auburn, AL;
- BILLY ADKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - MEGAN HAZEL CHAPMAN of DeRidder, LA;
- TIM NEELY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - SARAH MARGARET MARTIN of Alexis, NC;
- AUBREY TAPLEY SCHOLARSHIP - DARBY TURNER McCLELLAN of Meherrin, VA;
- GEORGE D. MATTHEWS, SR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - KAYLONARAY LONG of Clarksville, TX.
Congratulations to each of the winners.
NEW & RETURNED LEAGUES 2010
It is great when new leagues join Dixie Softball but it is also an equal feeling of pride when a league, after having dropped out of Dixie Softball for one reason or another, decides to return to play Dixie Softball. Listed below are the new and returned leagues for 2010.
NEW
- Lantana, Florida
- Albany, Georgia
- Seminole County, Georgia
- West Brunswick, North Carolina
- Crenshaw County, Alabama
- Campbell, Texas
- Zion Chapel, Alabama
- Moore County American, North Carolina
- Moore County National, North Carolina
- Topsail Girls, North Carolina
- Blevins, Arkansas
- New Site, Alabama
- St. Tammany Parish District 6, Louisiana
- Freeport, Florida
- Dacusville, South Carolina
- St. Tammany Parish District 2, Louisiana
- Branchville, South Carolina
- RSM Little Peach, South Carolina
- Francis Marion, South Carolina
- Altha, Florida
- Double Springs, Alabama
- Mowa (Mt. Vernon), Alabama
- Lamar County, Georgia
- Bascom/Malone, Florida
- West Ouachita (Calhoun), Louisiana
- Rockingham, North Carolina
- Lillington, North Carolina
- Hope/Spring Hill, Arkansas
- Winfield, Alabama
- Reidsville, North Carolina
- North Granville/Vance, North Carolina
- Eden Family YMCA, North Carolina
- Eden North Carolina
- Madison-Mayodan, North Carolina
RETURNED
- Bolivar, Tennessee
- North Jackson/Stevenson, Alabama
- Chatom, Alabama
- Town Creek, North Carolina
- Titus County, Texas
- Bessemer City, North Carolina
- East Montgomey County, Virginia
- Okeechobee, Florida
- Fairview, Louisiana
- Enterprise National, Alabama
- Jones County National, Georgia
- Brookeland, Texas
- Fannin American, Texas
- District One American, South Carolina
- Onalaska, Texas
- Oak Island, North Carolina
- Northeast Winter Haven, Florida
- Montgomery American Central, Alabama
- Atoka National, Tennessee
- Liberty County, Florida
- Duplin County American, North Carolina
2010 WORLD SERIES SITES
- DIXIE DARLINGS - Denison, Texas
- DIXIE ANGELS - Vancleave, Mississippi
- DIXIE PONYTAILS - Columbia County, Georgia
- DIXIE BELLES - Pineville, Louisiana
- DIXIE DEBS - Vancleave, Mississippi
CHANGES FOR 2010
There were no rule changes for Dixie Softball in 2010 but there were some rule clarifications, policy changes and some recommendations made:
- June 1 is the deadline to notify State Director that a division(s) in your league will not be participating in DSI tournaments for the current year.
- No DSI tournament may start before June 17 with the exception of SweeTees.
- July 30 is the arrival date for teams participating in the World Series.
- The population that a league may have within its boundary was changed for 20,000 to: 25,000.
- Two or more leagues operating under separate boards may operate within the same boundary by written agreement of the leagues concerned with written permission of the District and State Directors.
- Break-away bases are recommended at second and third bases.
- Tournament bats must be stamped "Official Softball", "Youth Softball" and/or "FastPitch Softball" along with the name of the manufacturer.
- Uniforms shall not have on them anywhere and in any color or manner designs that resemble a softball. This includes uniforms, socks, pads, etc. Any patch or uniform design, etc. approved by DSI can be worn. DSI reserves the right to refuse any design on uniforms, clothing or equipment worn by a player, coach or fan. EXCEPTION: Due to an error, the new 2010 35th Anniversary patch for Dixie Softball resembles a softball and totally violates this new policy of Dixie Softball's. However, the patch will be sanctioned and will be legal as long as it is worn properly. The patch must be worn on the shoulder or chest area. Dixie Softball apologizes for this error.
- DSI recommends that lightning detectors be installed at all softball complexes.
- Coaches may either wear exact uniforms their team wears or wear uniforms of coordinating colors of their team. If coordinating color uniforms are chosen the coaches uniforms must be of like fabric. No denim jeans/shorts, overalls, etc. are allowed. Coaches may wear a combinatin of long slacks or shorts as long as the slacks and shorts are of like fabric and fit properly. Coaches may wear jerseys outside the slacks/shorts.
- All umpires who registered in 2009 need only send in their $25.00 fee along with their 2009 DSI umpire card number in order to be registered in 2010. Umpires who were NOT registered in 2009 must send in their $25.00 fee and pass the approved DSI umpire test in order to be registered in 2010.
- If any player, manager or coach (regardless of catching position) is caught warming up a pitcher without the proper helmet/faceguard protection the manager/head coach of that team shall be removed as a manager/head coach and shall NOT be allowed inside the playing field/dugout area for that or the next game. whichever is applicable. NOTE: Any subsequent violation of this rule during season play a coach should be removed from coaching for the rest of the season.NOTE: Any subsequent violation of this rule during tournament play the manager/head coach shall be removed from further managing/coaching in the tournament.
2010 APPROVED SUPPLIERS
EQUIPMENT
- NATIONS BEST SPORTS
SOFTBALLS
- A. D. STARR
- DIAMOND SPORTS
- JP SPORTS
BATS
- ANDERSON BAT CO.
- COMBAT
- DEMARINI
- EASTON
- HILLERICH & BRADSBY (Louisville Slugger)
- MATTINGLY
- MIKEN
- MIZUNO SPORTS
- RAWLINGS
- WORTH SORTS
NOTE: Not every bat manufactured by an "Approved Supplier" is approved for Dixie Softball play. Dixie Softball uses the approved bat list that the governing body of USA Softball publishes for the purpose of deciding which bats are approved for Dixie Softball play. If any bat on the approved USA Softball list is not approved for Dixie Softball play we will list such bat on this website. For the list of approved bats please go to www.asasoftball.com and look for the certified equipment button and click on it then click on the bats button and then click on the display all button. When the drop down list appears click on the manufacturer you are looking for.
FUND RAISER
- BRAX, LTD.
- WORLD'S FINEST
TROPHIES & AWARDS
- BIRMINGHAM TROPHY SHOP
- CROWN TROPHY
- DINN BROTHERS
INSURANCE
- SADLER & CO.
2010 AGE DIVISION CHART
WHATEVER AGE A GIRL IS ON DECEMBER 31 WILL BE HER LEAGUE AGE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EXAMPLE: A GIRL IS 10 YEARS OF AGE ON DECEMBER 31, 2009, HER LEAGUE AGE IS 10 for 2010. IF A GIRL TURNS 10 YEARS OF AGE ON JANUARY 1, 2010, HER LEAGUE AGE IS 9 for 2010.
Dixie Softball wishes to thank Dianne Oliver of the Dothan, AL Leisure Services for designing the below age chart. Remember, the age control date is December 31st which determines which age division a player will play in.
2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
JAN 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
FEB 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
MAR 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
APR 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
MAY 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
JUN 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
JUL 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
AUG 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
SEP 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
OCT 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
NOV 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
DEC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
A PARENT GETS IT RIGHT!!
by Obie Evans
It always amazes me that parents can get it right. As most of you reading this know, I have for years made my opinion known about the effects of travel ball on local community programs. I will say it again. Travel ball, overall hurts local community programs and where it can be avoided it should be. Not only has travel ball hurt local community programs but when local community programs put the local school team ahead of what their local community program goal should be that too can cause problems for a local community program.
Recently Preston Leonard, Dixie Softball National Vice President, received an e-mail from a parent in North Carolina. The e-mail says it all. I have chosen this as my one of my best annual e-mail of the year . I have made editorial changes to make the e-mail readable for my column and not just an e-mail type of wording. I have chosen not to name the softball programs involved for it would not serve the common good to do so. The email is paraphrased below:
Hello!
I am not sure where I need to begin. My daughter played this year in the all-star games for her local league Angels tournament team. She had a really great time and she enjoyed herself greatly up until the point and time she had to play against another league which I believe this other league's team is made up of 3 traveling teams. A true unfair advantage against our girls. Why take away perhaps a once a year moment for some girls that the girls on the other team have the opportunity to do almost every weekend.
There is no doubt that the girls on the other team are really good ball players. But AWFUL defines them better. They have no respect, talked ugly to our little girls and to us as parents. When my child cries as she pitches a ball because they are being too rude, there is a problem. Again, there is no doubt that the other team's Angels players are good but isn't there a rule or regulation that is in place or can be put in place about travel ball teams and restricting their participation in the "recreational" style of softball that Dixie Softball presents. My daughter gets one chance a year to play tournament ball and try to make it to the state tournament. The girls on the other team have a lot of opportunities to play and reach higher level so they should not be allowed to stand in the way of Dixie Softball oriented teams.
There was a problem that I will contact my district director about. No one is perfect but I feel he mishandled a situation at the tournament. We should be playing ball for the CHILDREN. I pray all will realize the true meaning of why the girls are playing softball. Thank you for your time.
The above parent realizes that girls softball should be fun to play and that travel ball players should go play travel ball and leave community ball to those who want to play it. She also realizes that travel ball players/teams really mess up tournament play for their attitude is different because they play so many tournaments and instead of the Dixie Softball tournament being an event it becomes just another softball tournament along the way. If the opposing team was rude and disrupting the game with rude comments the umpires should have stepped in. Dixie Softball does have rules against harassment of players from the other team. Sportsmanship is the utmost goal of Dixie Softball for any softball game.
Dixie Softball has rules and policies that regulate travel ball players/teams as much as possible. Over 10 years ago Dixie Softball was sued by a league which was backed by the governing body of United States Softball, namely ASA. Because of circumstances of the lawsuit, Dixie Softball cannot restrict players from participating with travel teams while playing Dixie Softball as well. It was a terrible decision but one Dixie Softball was forced to accept. Oh, how I wish Dixie Softball could restrict players from playing with other softball organizations while playing Dixie Softball. I told the court at the time that allowing players to dual participate would hurt the "recreational" style of softball that Dixie Softball was offering and sadly, I was correct.
I wish the e-mailer, her daughter and her local program well in the future and perhaps one day they will have the opportunity to make it to the state tournament and even to the World Series. If enough parents would stand up for fun softball for their local program the world of girls softball will be better.
WHAT DIXIE SOFTBALL IS ABOUT
By Obie Evans
Every now and then something comes along that makes my season or even my 41 years of Dixie Girls Softball feel worthwhile. A note I received from Lynette Edmondson of Dickson County, Tennessee stating that the Dickson County Dixie Softball program would be adding an additional Darlings team to their program and this would make a total of 8 Darlings teams for their program thus making the Dickson County program having to have 2 leagues in the Darlings age division. A number of programs try to keep their number of teams to no more than 7 teams in an age division because it would force the program to have 2 tournament teams in that particular age division. They feel this would weaken their "all-star" team. I ask, "Which is more important, a super "all-star" team made up of 12 girls or 24 girls being "all-stars" on 2 good teams?" Thank you Lynette for confirming what I feel, that Dixie Softball is a good thing. Below is that note:
We need to apply for an additional franchise number because we have eight teams in our Darlings!
This is very exciting!!
Our draft and scheduling were done with the teams divided into National and American. However, it was only recently I learned we had to apply for another franchise number.
Just three years ago, there were only three Darlings teams. Last year (2008) it grew to five, and now we are thrilled to have eight teams! I think it is because we started SweeTees three years ago. The girls and families are really enjoying the SweeTees!! Kudos to Dixie Softball for starting the SweeTees!
Thank you,
Lynette Edmondson
2009 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Doug Garrett, DSI Scholarship Committee chairman has announced the winners of the 2009 Dixie Softball scholarships. The winners are:
- BILLY ADKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - BRITTNEY LYNN CLARK of Erin (Houston County league), Tennessee;
- FRANK L. BAXTER HONORARY SCHOLARSHIP - ASHLEY NICOLE SHELL of DeRidder, Louisiana;
- R. T. ADAMS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - ALYSSA JUNE DANIELS of Carthage, Mississippi;
- TIM NEELY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - SKEETER ALICE BRANNAN of Paris (Lamar County YWCA league), Texas;
- AUBREY TAPLEY HONORARY SCHOLARSHIP - CRYSTAL LORANE YOUNG of Pineland, Texas; and
- the first GEORGE D. MATTHEWS, SR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - MARY ELIZABETH DRIVER of Abbeville, SC.
Congratulations to each of these young ladies. The Dixie Softball family wishes them well in their future educational endeavors and thank them for playing Dixie Softball.
DIXIE SOFTBALL DIRECTOR'S ELECTIONS - 2010
The below positions will be up for election in 2010:
- All national officers
- Alabama - National Director
- Louisiana - National Director
- South Carolina - National Director
- Texas - National Director
COACHES IN ALABAMA COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND HIGH SCHOOLS HONORED BY DIXIE SOFTBALL
A number of college, university and high school coaches who played Dixie Softball were recently honored. An article pertaining to these Dixie Softball Hall of Famers can be found below in an article entitled "Proud to be Dixie".
2011 WORLD SERIES SITES
- DIXIE DARLINGS - Pineville, Louisiana
- DIXIE ANGELS - South Hill, Virginia
- DIXIE PONYTAILS - Pineville, Louisiana
- DIXIE BELLES - South Hill, Virginia
- DIXIE DEBS - Alexandria, Louisiana
--------------------------------------------
CURING KIDS' CANCER
For the past few years Dixie Softball has been supporting the "Coaches curing Kids' Cancer program. Below is an article send to Dixie Softball by e-mail. It tells the story of "Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer". Over the years too many stories of Dixie Softball players being stricken with cancer have become known. If you or your program can, it would be very benefical to all if the "Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer" program be supported and hopefully one day there will no more stories of kids with cancer.
This article appeared on the website EAST COBBER.
Being a mother has been the biggest blessing of my life. My husband, Clay, and I have four amazing and wonderful sons - Pierce who is 17, Garrett and Killian - the twins - were born 15 years ago, and Finnian who is 11 but he thinks he's 18! But even the most blessed life is tempered by hard times. And in our case, we faced the unthinkable - losing Killian to cancer on July 27, 2003, when he was only nine years old. The story begins in 1999. I was having a miserable year. I snapped my ACL playing tennis, and had to have surgery. Three weeks later, I was told that my mum, who was in England, had suddenly become very ill. I immediately traveled to England to be with her. After two agonizing weeks she passed away. I thought my world had fallen apart - but there was more to come. Six weeks after Mum died, Killian got sick with a fever and stomach ache that would not go away. The doctors finally ran a blood test, which came back with a devastating diagnosis: Killian had leukemia. He was just five years old and to all appearances was a normal happy and very healthy looking little boy with big green eyes and a head full of curly blonde hair. How could he have cancer? That happened in movies and on TV, not to our little boy! It was December 10, 1999 - Diagnosis Day. So we all embarked on a long journey of chemotherapy and its horrible side effects - the mouth sores, the hair loss, the nausea, the pain and weakness and the forced isolation in hospital rooms. But Killian never wanted to be treated like he was sick. His dream was to be a "normal healthy child." He insisted on playing sports throughout his treatment: baseball, basketball, swimming. In fact, he once participated in a swim meet after having a spinal tap - and got upset when he came in third! His spirit was unbreakable. After nearly three years of chemotherapy - with the end of treatment in sight - our world crashed in on us again. Killian relapsed. The leukemia was back. Now he was really fighting for his life, with his chance of survival dropping from 75 percent to 20 percent. His best chance was a bone marrow transplant. We were all tested for compatibility, but it was Killian's twin, Garrett, who was a perfect match! Bone marrow transplants are not the magic treatment shown on popular hospital TV series. They are simply brutal. After high-dose chemo, Killian had to undergo radiation to destroy his existing bone marrow - along with the leukemia cells in his body. The transplant itself is relatively simple - much like getting a blood transfusion. Then Killian's body had to go through the process of trying to accept the new marrow. He was placed in isolation again - this time for nine weeks while he struggled with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and horrible pain. Killian's bravery and spirit hit me anew as I watched him fight to beat the disease. He exercised constantly - walking around and around the nurses' station, with medicine pole and monitors in tow. He was given the "Strong Legs Award' by his nurses for his efforts. It worked. We received the joyful news that Killian's bone marrow was now 100 percent engrafted with Garrett's cells - this was as good as it gets. But sometimes leukemia is tougher than even a nine-year-old boy. Ninety days post-transplant - just 10 days short of the point where the transplant is considered successful - a routine blood test showed the leukemia had returned. The following week, Killian's doctor told us we were out of options and that Killian had about two months to live. He said we should go make some memories while Killian was still well enough to enjoy himself. So we went to Disney World, telling Killian and his brothers that we were celebrating a successful bone marrow transplant. That was one of the hardest weeks of my life - pretending to be happy when my heart broke every time I looked at Killian. It felt as if my heart was tearing apart. But we weren't ready to give up. The day we got back from Disney World, I read an article about a new drug which was first developed here in Atlanta for chemo-resistant childhood leukemia. The drug, BL22, is a targeted treatment which attaches itself only to the cancer cells and destroys them. It does not destroy healthy cells - only cancer cells. I called our doctors immediately and asked if Killian could try the drug. They said he couldn't because it was not open to clinical trials for children. That didn't stop me. Miraculously, I managed to contact the doctor at the National Cancer Institute and we got special permission from the FDA to use the new drug just for Killian. Within a week, we were at the NCI in Bethesda, Md., where Killian became the first child in the world to try this new drug. The drug worked well enough to stop the leukemia cells from multiplying for a short time but because the drug was experimental the doctors were not allowed to give Killian a big enough dose to cure him. If the doctors had had the money to fund the development of this drug earlier, it could very well have saved his life. But this miracle was not meant for Killian so we took him home. Over the next few weeks Killian deteriorated rapidly, needing blood and platelet transfusions every other day. He developed a fungal infection in his lungs which the doctors said would kill him in about three days. Killian's spirit kept him alive for his little brother's 6th birthday three weeks later. The day after Finn's birthday Killian told us three times that he was ready to go now. When I told him that was okay but asked where he was going, he smiled and said, "I'm going home.' He was very peaceful and at 10pm on Sunday July 27, 2003, Killian left us. |
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