From today's Jackson Sun:
While Spring Fling may be going on next week in Murfreesboro to conclude the spring sports season for the TSSAA, a few high school senior baseball players in West Tennessee will have one game remaining to play.
That is because the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx have announced plans to host the inaugural West Tennessee High School All-Star Classic on June 4 at Pringles Park.
"This has been something we've been thinking about for a couple of years, and Rich Grimm from Union University and I were talking a few weeks ago about one," said Jaxx general manager Tom Hanson. "He is from Florida, and he told me about an all-star game they had there that was really big.
"We talked about trying to get one started here at Pringles Park, and it's really taken off from there over the past few weeks. We are partnering with JEA, Great American Sports, BancorpSouth, Union University, 101.5 FM and The Jackson Sun to make this idea a reality."
The game is scheduled to be played on June 4 with two teams of graduating senior baseball players who will be split into teams representing the northern and southern parts of West Tennessee.
Union baseball coach Brent Fronabarger and Lambuth coach John Barlowe will coach the teams.
The teams will be comprised of players selected by nominations sent in by area coaches with requirements being the player must be a senior from a West Tennessee high school who made his district's all-district first or second team, honorable mention or the district's all-tournament team.
Players who make the teams will be notified no later than May 28.
The tentative schedule for the day's activities begins at 12:05 p.m. when the all-stars will attend a game between the Jaxx and the Tennessee Smokies, participate in a pro-style workout at about 3:30 p.m. for any college and pro scouts that will be in attendance and play in the game that will start at 6 p.m. and will be nine innings.
"We have sent invitations to scouts from a number of different colleges around the region and pro scouts as well," Hanson said. "We're not sure how many pro scouts will be able to attend since the MLB draft is the next day, but there should be a good number of college scouts there."
The players will also get to represent their individual schools while competing.
"We will have special jerseys made for the players, but we will ask them to bring their own pants and their school's hat," Hanson said.
Once the game is complete, three awards will be given out: offensive and defensive MVPs and outstanding pitcher.
The game will be broadcast live on EPlusTV 6 and 101.5 FM, and admission to the game is $5. Anyone who pays to get into the Jaxx game earlier in the day will be admitted to the all-star game free of charge.
"Any profit we make off this will be donated to the Diamond Jaxx charitable fund, which is money we use to help the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation," Hanson said.
Coaches are encouraged to send their nominations into The Jackson Sun either through e-mail or fax at 731-425-9639 by Monday afternoon.
-Brandon Shields, 425-9751