Dixie Youth softball tryouts set for Feb. 22

Tryouts for the 2014 Demopolis Dixie Youth Softball season will be held Feb. 22 at the Demopolis SportsPlex. In the event of foul weather, tryouts will be moved to Synergy the same day and time.

Dates for try-outs and draft are as follows:

• 4-6 year old Sweeties – No try-out;

• 7-8 year old Darlings – Saturday, Feb. 22 @ 10 a.m., SportsPlex Field 7;

• 9-10 year old Angels – Saturday, Feb. 22 @ noon, SportsPlex Field 7;

• 11-12 year old Ponytails – Saturday, Feb. 22 @ 2 p.m., SportsPlex Field 7.

Tryouts for the 13-15 age group will be announced at a later date.

The organization is coming off another successful season, which included hosting an all star tournament and a blossoming relationship with the University of West Alabama softball team.

“We were fortunate to find a great partner in UWA Softball Coach Will Atkinson,” DDYSL President Jason Cannon said. “That kind of relationship will go a long way in helping our girls develop a high-level skill set they can carry with them through all Dixie Youth age groups, into middle school and high school and, hopefully, beyond.”

In conjunction with DDYSL, the UWA softball team and coaching staff held a clinic at the SportsPlex last fall for Dixie Youth players around the region, an event both organizations hope will grow over the coming seasons.

“On a local level, our all star teams have become a force to reckon with in the state, and our girls are getting the best instruction we can possibly provide with a laborforce of hardworking moms and dads and other volunteers,” Cannon said. “Having access to the talents of Coach Atkinson and his team is a big boost to what we’re able to teach these girls through Dixie Youth, and we hope that translates on the field for years to come.”

Registration fees for this coming season for Sweeties are $50. All other age groups are $55 for the first child and $50 for each additional child. There will be a $10 late fee per child for registering after the Feb. 19 registration deadline.

Registration forms are available at Hibbett Sports. You can find DDYSL on facebook at “Ddysl Demopolis” and on the web at www.DemopolisYouthSoftball.com.

For more information, or if you are interested in coaching or assisting, please contact the player representatives for your child’s age group. They are:

• Kirk Stephens, tee-ball;

• Elizabeth Smith, 7-8 year-olds;

• Cobey Rowley, 9-10 year-olds;

• Carrie Jackson, 11-12 year-olds;

• Angie Weeks, 13-15 year-olds.

Other board members are Wanda Dunklin, Lee Jordan and Valley Harrison.