`Redneck t-ball'
Daily rains push district playoff action indoors

HENDERSON COUNTY FAIR PARK COMPLEX-- Forced inside the rodeo arena because of rain, the Chandler Rugrats defeated the Chandler Dragonflies 19-8 Chad Wilson Photos

While the recent area rains may have been good for fishermen and farmers they nearly wiped out area little league playoffs.

Several games had to be postponed and some scrimmages canceled due to poor field conditions and the weather.

In t-ball action the Chandler Rugrats and Chandler Dragonflies both advanced to the district playoffs. Unable to play in Malakoff as scheduled the teams met in the second game of the playoffs in one of the most unlikliest of venues, the Henderson County Fairpark Complex.

Area football teams have practiced at the Complex for playoff football games to avoid the weather but this was the first time a softball game was played in the arena.

Rugrats coach Jeff Fulgham was instrumental in having the games moved as he was the one who placed the call to the Fairpark Complex.

Complex manager Wayne Carroll allowed the games to be played in the arena and Pct. 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence donated equipment to be used to pack down the arena dirt.

Chad Wilson Photo BASEHIT-- Despite chatter from the Rugrats catcher this DragonFly was able to get an RBI hit last Thursday night.

By 6:00pm last Thursday night the arena was ready to go, complete with chalked field lines and a spray painted homeplate.

The first official softball game in the arena pitted the Rugrats against league rival the Dragonflies.

Scoring three runs in the top of the first inning the Dragonflies took an early lead. In the bottom half of the first inning the Rugrats stormed back scoring nine runs to take the lead.

The Rugrats batted around their entire lineup in the first inning as Morgyn Fulgham drove in four runs on two hits in the inning.

Nine runs would prove to be enough for the win as the Rugrats held the Dragonflies to eight total runs in the contest.

In the bottom half of the second inning the Rugrats batted around their lineup once more, this time scoring seven runs.

Chad Wilson Photo NICE STOP-- Rugrat Morgyn Fulgham fields a ball hit to her in the pitcher's circle.

Overall the Rugrats scored 19 points in the 19-8 win. There were more than 20 combined hits in the game.

Many fans and coaches alike referred to the game in the rodeo arena as "redneck t-ball".

The Rugrats finished in first place in the ETGS 6U T-ball National League with a record of 7-2 while the Dragonflies finished in second place with a record of 6-3.

In their first games of the tournament the Rugrats defeated the 12-0 Athens Stingers 24-10. Several big hits contributed to the upset.

Sadie North, a pick-up player from the Bratz, had a 3-run triple and Morgyn Fulgham hit a grandslam late in the game to seal the victory.

Aggressive base running and great defense was key in both wins for the Rugrats.

Mildred was next on the Rugrats plate at the Complex. Chandler won 19-8 advancing to the championship round.

Meeting the Rugrats in the championship game was the Dragonflies.

In a hard fought contest the Rugrats edged the Dragonflies 15-14 to earn first place in TTAS District 5.

Chad Wilson Photo PICK-UP PLAYERS-- Each team that advanced to the playoff was able to pick-up three players from non-playoff teams. One of the Rugrats pick-ups was Savannah North (above).

The Rugrats entered the final inning trailing by 2 runs before scoring three runs to win the game.

Both the Dragonflies and Rugrats will now advance to the State Tournament to be held in Hillsboro at Wallace Park the week of July 16.

"I would like to thank Wayne Carroll of the Henderson County Fairgrounds for use of the grounds and for working the arena and Ronny Lawrence, County Commissioner for use of the equipment to get the "field" ready to go." Rugrats coach Amy Fulgham stated.

"We wouldn't have been able to play without the effort of these guys.

Members of the Rugrats include: Chelsea Foster #10, Aubrey Kirkpatrick #14, Kendra Collard #2,Mikayla Wilson#8, Hanna Fleming #12, Morgyn Fulgham #66, Journie Holloway #5, Madison Anderson #6, Abigale Timmerman #33, Merenda Dosser #7, Kristina Grace #11, and pick up players Sadie North #0, Savanna North #7, and Mati Nicholson #1. The team is coached by Cheryl Timmerman, Amy and Jeff Fulgham.

DUGOUTS-- Players and coaches used the stalls as dugouts during the district playoff game.

Members of the Dragonflies include: Cassie Chambers, Maranda Gay, Madison Johnson, Myangulah Mosley, Shelby Rumbo, Haley Settle, Destiny Stanley, Madison Wood, Arial Woods, and pick up players Ashley Murphy and Emily Edwards, coached by Jeff Wood.

For more information on the East Texas Girls Softball league go to leaguelineup. com/etgs.

Team photos on page 9.