The Lee County Parks & Recreation 12U All-Stars capped off an exciting week with two wins on Thursday night to win the Dixie Youth League 12U State Championship.
With the win, Lee County earned a berth representing North Carolina in the Dixie Youth World Series Aug. 3-10 in Lumberton. The team faces South Carolina in the first round at 6 p.m. on Aug. 4.
After winning its way through the winner’s bracket with dominating performances all week, Lee fell to reigning state champions Kings Mountain on Wednesday night to set up a three-way championship round.
Cameron Richey got the start on the mound against Kings Mountain in the first game Thursday. He threw a strong four-and-a-third innings, striking out six and allowing just one run and three hits. Bryson Pope came on to record the final five outs in the 11-1 win.
Marcus Tate-Blanks belted two home runs and batted in five total, and Richey hit a three-run homer of his own. Pope, Charlie Jeffries, Lawton Hickman and Drew Stanfield each had hits as well.
Then in the final game against South Stanly, Pope made the start, throwing an effective two innings before turning the game over to ace Thomas Frazer, who shut down South Stanly for a 6-1 win. Frazer struck out 10 and allowed no runs on four hits.
Frazer also hit a three-run bomb in the first inning to score Cooper Harrington and Richey. Jeffries and Austin Ragan both batted in runs as well. Josh Hall had two hits in the game and DeRaye McLean scored a run.
The team is coached by Brad Wilson, Vinnie Frazer and Travis Seymour.
