Baseball Joy in Surfside

Tuesday's editorial praises Surfside Beach's victory in the Dixie Youth World Series.

A young baseball team from Surfside Beach went to the Dixie Youth World Series in Laurel, Miss., with dreams of winning it all, but the boys and their coaches knew that would require beating 11 teams from across the South.

Saturday, they returned home with the championship that no area team has won since 1969. It is an accomplishment the 11- and 12-year-olds surely will remember and treasure long after the trophy has collected dust and their ball-playing years are behind them.

In the championship game, the Surfside Beach players were preparing for a likely loss as they were down seven runs in the last inning. They rallied and won 12-9 over North Carolina. One parent at the game, Thayne Martin, said every game was close. "It was just great, a great event."

The Surfside Beach boys, most of them age 12 and in their last year of eligibility for the all-star team, represented the state of South Carolina. That came with a win over Hartsville on July 30. In Dixie Youth baseball, all-star teams are selected by league coaches after the regular season.

As the team started the tournament in Mississippi, coach Winn Bigham said his players had the desire to win the series. "They are here to play well and represent the state of South Carolina."

At home with the championship in hand, the coach paid a high compliment to his players. "This has been three months of a lot of great memories and magical moments. I have a lot of thanks to give out to my two coaches. ... And we have 12 of the finest players I have ever had the privilege of coaching."

As these boys play more ball in high school and perhaps in college, they will remember other special aspects of this season. As a team, they displayed solidarity and support for one of their teammates whose mother, Tammy Gulledge, was recovering from major surgery.

Martin put it quite well: "It's an epic event for these kids. It wasn't just about baseball; it was about a life lesson. The coaches did a great job about keeping that perspective. This isn't just about winning or losing. This is about growing and developing bonds with other human beings."

It seems more than fitting that these young ball players also were awarded the sportsmanship trophy at the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.

They were welcomed home as Surfside Beach held its first Ocean Expo. And as he praised the baseball players, Mayor Allen Deaton said welcoming them was the only event that would have pulled him away from the ocean.

A parade is planned, and the team was presented a certificate of recognition from the S.C. General Assembly.

The Grand Strand and indeed the state can take pride in the Surfside Beach all-stars - and for more than playing some mighty fine baseball.

In the championship game, the Surfside Beach players were preparing for a likely loss as they were down seven runs in the last inning. They rallied and won 12-9 over North Carolina. One parent at the game, Thayne Martin, said every game was close. "It was just great, a great event."

The Surfside Beach boys, most of them age 12 and in their last year of eligibility for the all-star team, represented the state of South Carolina. That came with a win over Hartsville on July 30. In Dixie Youth baseball, all-star teams are selected by league coaches after the regular season.

As the team started the tournament in Mississippi, coach Winn Bigham said his players had the desire to win the series. "They are here to play well and represent the state of South Carolina."

At home with the championship in hand, the coach paid a high compliment to his players. "This has been three months of a lot of great memories and magical moments. I have a lot of thanks to give out to my two coaches. ... And we have 12 of the finest players I have ever had the privilege of coaching."

As these boys play more ball in high school and perhaps in college, they will remember other special aspects of this season. As a team, they displayed solidarity and support for one of their teammates whose mother, Tammy Gulledge, was recovering from major surgery.

Martin put it quite well: "It's an epic event for these kids. It wasn't just about baseball; it was about a life lesson. The coaches did a great job about keeping that perspective. This isn't just about winning or losing. This is about growing and developing bonds with other human beings."

It seems more than fitting that these young ball players also were awarded the sportsmanship trophy at the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.

They were welcomed home as Surfside Beach held its first Ocean Expo. And as he praised the baseball players, Mayor Allen Deaton said welcoming them was the only event that would have pulled him away from the ocean.

A parade is planned, and the team was presented a certificate of recognition from the S.C. General Assembly.

The Grand Strand and indeed the state can take pride in the Surfside Beach all-stars - and for more than playing some mighty fine baseball.