The Benders recorded lucky number seven this past weekend as they picked up their seventh championship in USP/Grand Slam Tournament in the Octoberfest in Donalsonville, Ga. The seven championships have come in travel ball play following the spring season.

The Benders are champions once again as they swept the South Georgia Classic in Donalsonville, Ga. this past weekend.

Coach Jeff Johnson and the Chipola baseball program hosted its 2009 Select Showcase Saturday, along with the Chipola Fall Baseball Tournament that ran from Friday through Sunday.

While going through some of his team’s used equipment, Cottondale Hornets baseball coach Greg Ohler wondered if there might be a way to get some of his club’s old gloves, bats, balls and uniforms in the hands of kids who want, but don’t have, the means to get such equipment themselves.

The 2009 Marianna High School Bulldog baseball team lost six players to graduation this year. Those six played a huge part in winning the district champion in 2008, and winning district runners-up this past school year. Each of those players held a separate distinction off the field as well. They were all honor graduates in their graduating class.

Dixie Youth Ozone state tournament action continued at Optimist Park Monday evening, with Grand Ridge handing Malone an 11-1 loss, eliminating Malone from further competition.

The Grand Ridge Ozone All-Stars are one step closer to the state championship game, after defeating West Volusia 5-4 Sunday afternoon in tournament action at Optimist Park.

Malone’s Jackson Reddish pitched a complete game shutout on Sunday, striking out nine and giving up only four hits and two walks to lead Malone past Marianna 7-0.

After breezing through the first two games at the state tournament on Saturday, the Panhandle Panthers 13U baseball team fell 7-2 Monday morning to Fossil Park.

After bringing home the championship this past weekend in tournament play at Bozeman, the Marianna High School Bulldogs baseball team dropped two one-run games at home against Port St. Joe Monday afternoon. Game One was a 3-2 loss, with Game Two going into extra innings and resulting in a 4-3 loss.

The Marianna Dixie Youth AA Machine Pitch American League All Stars took the field Friday night in Paxton with first game jitters. But the 28-22 loss to Chipley’s AA all stars is not indicative of the caliber of play the Marianna team showed on the field.

The Marianna High School baseball team traveled to Port St. Joe Tuesday afternoon and left the field with a 1-1 split with the Sharks.

With the rain and weather knocking out two teams in a four-team tournament, it was the Marianna Stars who walked away with first place in Grand Ridge this past weekend, with an 11-5 win in six innings in Game One and 14-0 in Game Two.

The Marianna Outlaws traveled to Donalsonville, Ga. this past weekend and came away with the top prize, first place in the 11-and-under division. The Outlaws outscored their opponents 45-20 in five games, dropping only one game in the tournament.

The Agricultural Center was the site for the 2009 Marianna High School baseball banquet last Friday evening, with more than100 people in attendance. Following a smoked steak supper, MHS Booster President Clay Rooks introduced Athletic Director Steve DeWitt.