SOUTHAVEN — By the end of the day on Sunday, the Starkville All-Stars stood alone as champions of the Dizzy Dean World Series.
The team went 5-0 over the weekend, winning the championship 8-0 against Bolivar Green. The shutout reflected strong defense and pitching on display throughout the weekend, with the closest game being a 5-2 win in the semifinals.
Dominic Holley took home Dizzy Dean MVP honors for the age group, showcasing his skills as both a pitcher and fielder at shortstop and catcher throughout the tournament. He joined teammates Ethan Forbes, J.C. Gardner, Easton Jackson and Chaney Morgan on the All-Tournament team.
“It was very fun to win with them,” Holley said. “I loved that I was named the MVP, and I want to keep playing with these guys and keep winning with them.”
“It was great,” said Coach Darrell Holley, Dominic’s father. “I’ve really enjoyed the last year and coaching him, and coaching all of them really, whether it’s this or rec ball. But yeah, watching him anytime is always great.”
The group is an experienced one, with many of the players playing together on previous All-Star teams as well as in the Starkville recreational league. That experience helped fuel a belief among the players, especially as the wins began to roll in early in the tournament. Holley relayed his own confidence in the group going into the weekend, citing past trips where the players have been in big spots and delivered under pressure.
“I counted six or seven of them that have been on a World Series team or the All-Star team before,” he said, “and a few of them played two years ago and won it, but as far as knowing, I knew they could do it and I think they knew it too. This group of kids, they’re great ballplayers. It’s just making the plays that need to be made and not getting in your head.”
Holley cited the popularity of the sport in the area, noting that more than a few – but not all – of his players are big Mississippi State baseball fans, but he also appreciates the culture in the area with parents and coaches letting their kids learn the sport for themselves. For him, it starts with letting them learn and love the game on their own, and then providing the support and opportunities for them to grow with it.
The approach has worked well for the team, standing out among a talented group of teams from the Golden Triangle area, and Holley hopes to see it continue.
“It means a lot to me because I’ve coached most of the kids on this team, whether it’s rec or coach-pitch,” he said. “I’ve coached a few travel ball teams as well. I’ve seen them grow and like the sport even more. It means a lot to see them grow and want to play the game and get better every time I see them.”
Local 12U All-Star teams from Lowndes County and Caledonia also made the trip to Southaven, meeting in the quarterfinals of the overall championship bracket. Caledonia came out on top, but fell to Bolivar in the semifinals in a close 5-4 defeat.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
