LITTLE ROCK — A Little Rock baseball team comprised of all-star 7-year-old players is the regional champion in its age group.
The Junior Deputy All-Stars defeated Benton Tuesday night in Kenner, La. in the title game of the Cal Ripken Southwest Region Baseball Tournament. The squad, which draws its 12-kid roster from a handful of other Little Rock teams, beat all-star teams from Mississippi, Louisiana and elsewhere in Arkansas en route to the tournament win.
"They'll hang the sign up (in Little Rock) and be able to walk by it when they're in their 30s and it will still say Southwest Regional Champion," said Greg Garrison, one of three team coaches along with Scott McWilliams and Mitch Black. "I'm proud of the kids. As coaches, we do what we can, but it's the kids out there playing the game."
After beginning play Friday, the Junior Deputy squad won all but one of its games as it advanced to and won the title.
When the team made the final out to secure the championship, players threw their gloves and hats in the air in celebration, Garrison said.
"And the parents were pretty excited too," he added. "There's no World Series or anything like that for 7-year-olds, so this is it."
Junior Deputy team members are Parker Gordon, Will Black, Brett Gastman, Miles Schluterman, Grant Jones, Jack Cline, Reece McWilliams, Bryce Stine, Eli Garrison, Roshan Ranaraja, Zach Fry and Cade Barnett.