Madisonville Little League all-stars enter postseason

Madisonville catcher Emilie Blakley of the Little League pitch division, ages 7-8, prepares to catch a first inning strike in their June 11 tournament game against Bryan West. Fernando Castro/Madisonville Meteor.

Players from different Madisonville Little League teams are banding together in the postseason.

The 2008 Texas District 33 Little League Baseball All-star Tournament began on June 9 at Lake Madison Recreational Facility and sites in both Bryan and College Station.

The tournament consists of all ten Little League organizations from the district, including those from Hearne, Franklin and Bremond. Many divisions have two teams representing each league, identified by either color or number

The postseason began with both boys and girls pitch divisions, also known as the junior minor divisions. Teams are made up of players ages 7-8. Softball was put into a bracket here in Madisonville, while baseball divided into pools of five teams in Bryan and College Station.

Madisonville Blue competed in the College Station pool. Each team had to play four of five rounds, with the two teams with the best winning record advancing to a bracket later in the month.

Blue played excellently against Bryan Bonham White in the third round to win, 23-4. Unfortunately, their other three opponents proved too strong for them, and Blue finished fourth in the pool with a 1-3 record.

It was a different story, however, for their counterparts in the Bryan Harvey pool. Madisonville Red played four evenings consecutively, and had impressive scores against Franklin/Bremond Two and Bryan East White.

Red eventually finished first with no losses in the entire pool. They move on to the boys pitch division bracket with a first round game on June 17 at 8 p.m. in College Station. They will face College Station American Two, runner-ups in the Bryan East pool.

The pitch division softball tournament was double-elimination, and Madisonville had two teams in this tournament as well. Madisonville Two suffered an early loss to Hearne, and was sent to the secondary elimination bracket immediately.

Madisonville One had better luck and defeated two teams on its way to facing Bryan Harvey. It was a close game, but Madisonville One was also sent to possible elimination.

On June 13, only Madisonville Little League players took to the field at Lake Madison. One and Two were the only teams remaining in the second bracket, and the winner would face Bryan Harvey to decide the championship.

In this instance, two was not greater than one. Madisonville's second team was eliminated, 8-5, and One once again faced Harvey. Despite another close game, Madisonville's team still could not get an extra edge.

Harvey won the District 33 Minor Division Softball Tournament with a final score of 7-5.

In the boys minor division, ages 9-10, a “B” bracket was set up for more teams to be created. That bracket also took place this past week at the home of Bryan West. Madisonville began strong with 14-5 win over Franklin One.

A loss to College Station National sent them to the elimination bracket, where they defeated College Station American the next day. Bryan West, however, would be the ones to eliminate Madisonville in the fourth round, 11-8.

Bryan Harvey eventually became the champions of the “B” bracket.

The tournaments played thus far have been part of the Special Games tournament. None of the teams go further than a district championship.

More tournaments will begin next week in other baseball and softball divisions. Madisonville Little League has representatives in most division tournaments.

A team has yet to be decided for the boys major division, ages 11-12.

Madisonville will also host a pool of the boys minor division tournament, which will have players ages 9-10. The first game will be June 23 at 6 p.m., with Madisonville versus Hearne.

For more information, changes and updated scores, visit the District 33 Web site at www.eteamz.com/texas_district_33.