DHYS Parents, Managers and Coaches:
Spring is an exciting time of year at Medlock, as we watch and play some exceptional baseball games, study the league standings and look forward to the end-of-season playoffs. For many, thoughts also begin to turn toward the all-star teams, a.k.a. summer tournament teams.

Tournament teams are for spring recreational team players interested in a more competitive level of baseball. DHYS offers tournament teams for those players that best represent their leagues in terms of playing ability and sportsmanship. Tournament team activities can create an exciting and rewarding time for players, coaches and parents. However, everyone should be aware of the commitment level before agreeing to participate.

Tournament games (usually located in the metro Atlanta area) can begin as early as Memorial Day weekend and continue through the 4th of July holiday and beyond, with practices and games scheduled throughout the week and weekends. Success in a tournament can lead to an invitation to play in state and out-of-state tournaments, usually held later in July.

Player Selection Process: Players interested in being considered for tournament teams must fill out and submit this linked form or PDF version by March 11, 2009.

You can also download and print the form, fill it out and mail it. Player Application Form PDF or Word Format

Workouts may be occurring in your child's league during April (likely one workout on each of the last two weekends of April), which are intended to give interested players good opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in front of many of the league managers in case they have not had the opportunity to showcase their skills sufficiently in games. For specific information for your league, please ask your recreation team's manager to inform you of the workout schedule. In early May, league managers will vote on tournament team players, and practices may begin soon after teams are selected. Interested players must turn in an application form to be considered for selection.

Fees: After selection to a tournament team, each participant can expect to pay fees of approximately $300 depending on the number of tournaments being played, among other factors. This cost includes uniform and ordinary tournament fees (does not include travel expenses).

Tournament Team Manager Nominations: Tournament team managers will be nominated by league managers, coaches and parents, selected by a vote of league managers, and approved by the DHYS board. Use the form below to submit nominations to Eric Schunk by April 1, 2009 (see the form for more specific instructions).

Manager Nomination Form (pdf file)

PONY or Dizzy Dean? A new alternative to DHYS tournament teams was introduced in 2007, the DHYS board recently approved continuation of dual affiliation for 2007. In addition to our membership in PONY (Protect Our Nation's Youth), we are also members of another national youth baseball organization, Dizzy Dean. While our recreation season rules are a mix, our 2009 summer tournament team managers can, through the DHYS Director of Tournaments, choose to participate in Dizzy Dean's district/state/etc. tournaments instead of PONY. This may be of particular interest to certain age groups (for example, 7U, 9U, 11U) for which the number of teams participating in the PONY district/state tournament has historically been very low.

For more information, contact the DHYS Director of Tournaments, Eric Schunk (404) 728-0602, eschunk@mindspring.com

Tournament Team Policy (pdf file)

Tournament Team Checklist for Business Managers

Tournament Team Medical Release Form (pdf file)

Georgia PONY site Tournaments page

Georgia Dizzy Dean site Tournaments page

For more information, talk to your team's manager/coach or another league manager/coach, or the DHYS Tournament Director (see contact information on the attached form).

Enjoy the rest of the Spring season, and good luck!

Directions to other parks--see http://www.onlinestats.com/directions/

Powder Springs. I-20W to Thornton Rd. - Exit right (go 7 or 8 miles on Thornton Rd., which becomes C.H. James Hwy.). Take right on Brownsville Rd. (landmarks: SAVERITE and GAS STATION ON LEFT). Stay on Brownsville Rd. @1 1/2 mi (go through 1 stop sign). Ballpark is on the right ("Powder Springs Park"). Budget 45 minutes Sunday to get there; budget 75 to 90 minutes to get there weekdays.

Shaw Park. http://www.shawparkbaseball.com/maptopark.htm (Note: Take I-75 to State Highway 5 -- this is hard to read on the map.)

10U DHYS Storm Win the 2008 Dizzy Dean (B) State Tournament!

The 10U Druid Hills Storm captured the Dizzy Dean State (B) Championship played in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. After dropping a lopsided game to Wills Park in the Winner’s Bracket final, the Storm shut out Oregon Park 10-0 to advance to the championship game needing to defeat Wills Park twice for the title the next night. After a rain delay and almost 5 hours of baseball ending shortly before midnight, the Storm prevailed 10-4 and 9-7 to take the title in thrilling fashion in a tournament that had 17 teams participating. The Storm fans, siblings and parents are proud to call our boys STATE CHAMPIONS.