Go Tribe!

Congratulations to the Virginia Tribe, the inspiring youth baseball team from Patrick County, on an outstanding season that has earned it the right to compete this week in the U-Triple S World Series near Columbia, S.C. The team, comprised of players age 10 and under, won the Virginia state championship in route to a record of 16-7 this season.

The Virginia Tribe began play with two games on Monday, July 14th in the World Series, competing against the best team from this region and across the country. "It will be a once in a lifetime trip" for the players, said coach Lane Dalton. He noted that the parents of the team members are just as excited about the World Series experience as the players are.

The Patrick County team is looking forward to the stiff competition that they will face in South Carolina this week. "We're a complete team. We hit, pitch, and play defense well," said Dalton.
My best to the Virginia Tribe in the World Series! The team's roster includes Nathan Perry, Trevor Belcher, Eli Horton, Austin Vernon, Will Hylton, Isaiah Hall, Aubrey Hopkins, Jacob Martin, Landon Gunter, Tucker Brown, and Caden Dalton. The Tribe is coached by Lane Dalton, Ricky Vernon, and Gary Brown.

Whether they win or lose in the South Carolina World Series, this team is a true champion and their conduct on and off the field has been a source of inspiration to country citizens throughout the season. We want to show the team just how proud we are of them when they return home from the World Series. The Great Day in the Morning Show will sponsor a congratulations and welcome home party for the team after the series. I am joining Kevin and Paula Polachek in planning this event. Stay tuned to my WHEO morning show for the latest details on how the team is doing this week, and when and where the welcome home (hopefully, victory celebration) event will be held.

Most of the players on the Virginia Tribe were also members of the Patrick County Dixie Youth Minor League All-Stars which were playing for the District 3 tournament title in Blacksburg until the tournament was abrubtly cancelled. After shutting out Montgomery County Friday night 3-0, the Patrick County All-Stars were preparing for a rematch with Blacksburg, the only team to defeat them, on Saturday. However, just as the team was preparing to leave Saturday morning to return to Blacksburg, coach Dalton said in a message left on the WHEO answering machine Sunday, "we received a call from the district director saying the tournament had been cancelled as Patrick County had elected to go no further than District 3 and as most of the players were coming to the World Series. "I really don't know what happened," said a Dalton. Apparently tournament officials awarded the tournament championship to Blacksburg and apparently Patrick County finished as the runner-up, added a baffled Dalton. If more information becomes available on this very puzzling turn of events, I'll share it with you.

Hopefully, the Tribe's players will put this very unfortunate situation behind them and will be ready to play their best in South Carolina. Congratulatins once again to the Virginia state champion Virginia Tribe 10 and under baseball team. We're behind you all the way! You are champions in every sense of word!

Until next time, may God bless you with a "great day"!

A proud Tribe fan,
Richard Rogers