As the weather heats up, so does the baseball season. All-starteams have been announced in the Lincoln County Dixie YouthBaseball League, following the conclusion of tournament play.

Thankfully, there were no reported fights, shootings, knifingsor killings on the police blotter after the all-star rosters wereannounced Tuesday night. For some parents, it is extremelydifficult for them to accept the fact that their child isn’t quitegood enough to make the all-star squad. Devastated by rejection,junior might even cry himself to sleep.

Oh well, there’s always soccer.

“Not good enough.”

Those are fighting words when you start dealing with parents andtheir children. Naturally, there are a few cases of all-starpolitics involved but that’s nothing new in our ladder-climbingsociety. It all began in preschool and kindergarten when favoredindividuals began reaping the benefits.

There are remarkably different opinions on this all-starsubject. Truth be known, many parents are relieved when their childisn’t selected to the all-star team.

“Whew!” exclaimed one mother. “I was worried about Bubba beingpicked an all-star. We’ve had reservations at Disneyworld for oversix weeks and my husband’s vacation is the first week of theall-star tournament.”

Yes, decisions must be made. Is it worth hanging around as asecond string right-fielder and missing your long-awaitedvacation?

By contrast, those designated, all-star alternates are eager foran opportunity to play, even if it means sitting on the bench.

For sure, all-star practice is a grind. Many coaches have beenknown to practice twice or more a day. “We’ll take BP (battingpractice) in the morning and work on defensive drills thisevening,” growls the manager (head coach). I don’t want to hear anyexcuses for skipping practice. Some kids would kill to make thisall-star team.”

Make sure the youngsters tank up on water before startingpractice. Soft drinks don’t replace water.

Remember to put sunscreen on the body, too. Parents can set theexample and then make their children do the same. Extreme sunburncan put you in the hospital or make you wish you were in thehospital under a doctor’s care.

All-star action begins later this month and there will be plentyof it, starting with the AA level, a.k.a. Buddy Ball orCoach/Pitch. There are 7 and 8-year-old all-star teams in theAmerican and National Leagues representing Lincoln County. Overall,there will be 12 DYB teams entered in star wars.

Southern Miss southpaw pitcher Paxton King was riding a team busto Spartanburg, N.C., when I talked to him Wednesday afternoon.King was redshirted his freshman year and watched the Golden Eaglesfrom the dugout during home games.

No doubt, the Eagles are the Cinderella team of the 2009 CollegeWorld Series. They were No. 3 seeds in the Georgia Tech Regional.Catching fire at the end of the season, they landed a regionalberth after finishing second to Rice in the Conference USATournament.

In stunning fashion, Southern Miss caught fire and knocked offElon and No. 1 seed Georgia Tech. The Eagles advanced to the SuperRegional where the powerful, heavily favored Florida Gators wereawaiting them in Gainesville.

Instead of being an appetizer for the Gators, USM continued toplay outstanding baseball, sweeping the hosts. Coach Corky Palmer’sretirement party has been put on hold until after USM’s first-everappearance in the World Series.

“It’s really a big accomplishment for us,” said King. Theinternational exposure and recruiting benefits are a big plus,too.

“We had our ups and downs all season,” King noted. “When I left(for summer baseball), the whole team was thinking we would have towin the (C-USA) tournament to make the regionals.”

Naturally, King wishes 2009 was 2010. “I hope we can make itback again to the World Series.”

King is playing for the Morganton (N.C.) Aggies this summer.They are members of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, awooden bat league stacked with senior college players.

King said his team played 8 games last week and will play 5 thisweek. “It’s been fun. I’m getting some innings in.”

He gained 10 pounds of muscle his redshirt year, working outdaily with the USM squad and dressing for home games. Three seniorpitchers are graduating and junior hurler J.R. Ballinger has beendrafted in the 11th round by the Chicago White Sox.

Obviously, King is ready to take the mound in 2010 under newhead coach Scott Berry, a 9-year USM assistant to Palmer.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com