Lumberton 10U Dixie Softball team advances to World Series

The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C.
·2 min read

Jul. 16—CARTHAGE — Lumberton will host the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series next month — but the city will also be represented at Dixie Softball's championship event.

The Lumberton Softball Association's Angels Division team, for age 10 and under, won the Dixie Softball State Tournament in Carthage earlier this week to advance to the Dixie Softball World Series, which will be held July 29 to August 4 in Alexandria, Louisiana.

"I'm really proud of these 12 girls," head coach Chris Conner said. "Every one of them contributed to helping us win the state title. We had big hits and big plays made by each and every one of them at the right time. I'm really blessed and it's a great opportunity; we're really thankful for each one of the kids and each one of the parents."

The Lumberton team was undefeated in the state tournament; this began with a 6-2 win over Moore County, followed by a 12-0 win over Cherryville, an 11-1 victory over Hope Mills, and 5-1 win over Moore County and a 4-1 win over Hope Mills in the championship.

In the first win over Hope Mills, pitchers Lucy Conner and Brookes Baffaro combined for a no-hitter. Over the five games, Lumberton pitching struck out 55 batters and allowed just seven hits; in addition to Lucy Conner and Baffaro, Allie Rogers was key to the pitching staff's success, Chris Conner said.

Chris Conner, a longtime Dixie Youth Baseball coach locally, started coaching softball after his daughter began playing; the head coach is assisted by Nick Baffaro and Sam Walton.

"The good Lord has blessed me with a healthy little girl, athletic little girl, and all the things I've helped other families to achieve ... now I get to share that with my daughter," Chris Conner said.

Players on the state champions include Baffaro, Ai'Maya Clark, Lucy Conner, Aydan Davis, Brooke Fluery, Za'Riya Kerns, Melanie Leggett, Allie Rogers, Zyrianah Rogers, Taylor Stone, Caroline Walton and Ja'Kenzlei Whitted.

Anyone interested in donating to help the team's World Series expenses can contact coach Chris Conner at 910-827-0101 or the Lumberton Softball Association.