WESSON – After collecting the bronze medal in last year’s StateGames of Mississippi High School Baseball All-Star tournament, the2008 version was selected Wednesday afternoon after a five-hourtryout at Co-Lin’s Sullivan Field to represent the District 7Southwest Mississippi team.

The tournament runs June 25-29 at Meridian Community College,and is under the double-elimination format.

Sixty-six rising juniors and seniors from the southwestMississippi area participated in the tryout, which consisted ofinfield and outfield drills, batting practice, pitching andcatching drills, and 60-yard dash sprints.

Franklin County’s DeHendret Collins turned in the fastest60-yard dash time with a 6.56, while a host of pitchers lit up theradar gun, displaying there best pitches from fastballs to breakingballs.

Ryan Kennedy, a rising senior from Enterprise, was one of eightrepeat selections from last year’s team to make this year’s squad.Kennedy, a southpaw pitcher, beat the Northeast MississippiDistrict 4 in last year’s games pitching five scorelessinnings.

Sluggers Kolby Byrd of Brookhaven Academy and Tyler Reeves ofLawrence County also were repeat selections. Both Byrd and Reeveshomered in the 2007 State Games.

This year’s 18-player field will consist of the followingAll-Star’s representing this area: Preston Edwards (RHP) NatchezCathedral, Jordan Hunt (OF/RHP) Franklin County, DeHendret Collins(OF/LHP) Franklin County, Ryan Kennedy (LHP) Enterprise, Kolby Byrd(Catcher) Brookhaven Academy, Will Gatlin (1B) Brookhaven Academy,Brett Rushing (INF/OF) West Lincoln, Drew Weaver (RHP) Loyd Star,Ben Slaton (Catcher) McComb, Zach Rowell (RHP) McComb, Tyler Reeves(OF/RHP) Lawrence County, Willie Buckley (RHP) Lawrence County,Kyle Adams (INF) Parklane, Josh Armstreet (OF) Parklane, ShelbyJohnson (RHP) Parklane, Nick Helmstetter (OF/RHP) Brookhaven, BudBritt (INF/RHP) Brookhaven, and Mike Peters (RHP) East Marion.

Coaching this year’s team will be new Franklin County headbaseball coach Brent Calcote and South Pike head baseball coachJason Cooksey.