The Stars would welocme a chance to play inthe home town as the last 4 tourneys have been ion the road.  The Classic has been one of Knoxvilles premier tournaments as the Satrs organization has been the host and has drawn many teams from surrounding states for years. 

  The Tourney opened Friday night with The Legends of Nashville and on this night they would have the Stars number.  Showing up flat and getting only 6 hits the Stars would take the opening lose 8 to 3.  Saturday would bring the East Cobb Raiders and a bunch of hungry Stars to hopefully stop the carnage.  Cameron Strickland would take the mound and hold the Raiders to only 2 hits, as the Stars bats came to life.  Tyler Hill would lead the way with 3 hits and heath Loyd and Drake Byrd would both pitch in 2 hits. The Cincinnati Flames would be next, a yearly visitor to the Classic.   Heath Loyd and Dakota Hudson would combine for 7 hits, as the Stars would shut down a 7^th inning rally as a Flame base runner was called erroneously out on third to end the game 7 -6, Stars win.   Wil Crowe would have 2 home runs and a double.  Next up would be the Tennessee Stixx, and after a long day at the park, the Stars were happy to go home with a 8 – 4 victory and a number 3 seed to go into the championship bracket. Dakota Hudson and Ben Breazeale would have 2 hits each including a with Breazeale blast to right field.  As fate would have it, the Stars would draw the Flames again Sunday morning.  Wil Crowe would spread 6 hits over 6 innings and Heath Loyd would slam the door in the 7^th for a 11 – 5 victory.   Cameron Strickland would set the tone for the game with a opening homerun and Loyd would follow with his own missing the cycle for the game by a triple.  AJ Simcox would also contribute 3 hits. 

    The Legends in the Championship awaited but so did the rain as 3 innings got to be played, including a Drake Byrd blast to left field, before the game had to be called for Thunderstorms.  Not the expected outcome, but a fair weekend at home as the Stars head back to Johnson City in 2 weeks, before heading to Cincinnati for the Flames barn burner at the end of June.

  The Stars continued there search for that elusive bid to Disney by traveling to the Kansas City Super over Memorial Day weekend.  As half the team drove, the other half flew and arrived in Kansas City with detailed reports of rain, tornados, and crazy Mid West weather.  With a pool of the North Texas Thunder, Missouri Heat, Iowa Sun Devils, and a put of pool game with the Capitol City Bombers, the Stars knew ever game would be important. 

  The Stars would get the Thunder Friday night, in a game played in 30+ mile per hour winds and about 50 degree temps.  Wil Crowe would take the mound for Knoxville, and would not disappoint.  Going all 6 innings, striking out 11 Thunder players, and leading the Stars to a 4-2 victory.  This game was a real battle, as the Thunder’s pitcher also pitched a great game, holding the Stars to just 3 hits, but the Stars would make them count and earn the victory.  Saturday would bring the Heat and Tyler Hill would lead the way holding the Heat to just 3 hits and earn the 9-2 victory.  Offensively, Hill  Jammer Strickland and Heath Loyd would lead the way  as each would have 2 hits each, with Loyd finishing with 3.  The Devils would be next, and Jammer Strickland was all the Stars needed.  In a 4 inning route, Strickland would bring his best stuff and throw a perfect game, striking out 7.  He would also led the offense hitting 2 doubles.  Drake Byrd would also contribute 2 singles and a double and Tyler Hill would have 2 singles.  Sunday would bring the end of pool play, lots of rain, and a minor disappointment in the Capitol City Bombers.  On the verge of one of the tourneys highest seeds, the Stars just needed to close the deal by beating the Bombers, but the Bombers came ready to play and with excellent pitching held the Stars to 6 hits and 2 runs, and a Bombshell for the Stars of a 2-2 tie.  This would move the Stars to a overall number 4 seed and a bracket with the number 1 seeded North Texas Elite.   

  Monday would bring more clouds and rain, and the finals with a opening game with the San Antonio Angels, who arrived as if they had already won.  Little did they know that Stars ace Wil Crowe was ready to go, and over 5 innings scattered 7 hits, allowing only 3 runs and setting the tone for a 11 to 3 victory.  Crowe would also have 3 hits, Strickland 2 hits, and Drake Byrd would push 4 for 4 with 2 doubles (one a huge bomb to left on the biggest field of the tourney).   Next up was the well Staffed North Texas Elite, who had 2 studs left to bring at the Stars.  Heath Loyd would battle pitch for pitch thru 4 innnigs, but when the Elite reloaded, with ace number 2, the Stars were out of pitching and took the 6 to2 loss and ultimately the 4^th place finish, missing in their quest for the Disney bid again by 1 game.    

  Overall another great trip, as the Stars enjoyed their first trip to the Mid West to play baseball.  Next up would be the Smokey Mountian Classic in Knoxville.

           The Knoxville Stars headed to the AL Super NIT knowing once again they were part of the toughest pool in the Tourney.  The Memphis Travelers, ranked 8th in the country by travelballselect.com, the Georgia Bandits, ranked 10^th, and the North Alabama Vipers, who are always a class organization and can compete with anyone, comprised the Stars super pool to open things up.  The Stars felt they had a lot to prove headed to Birmingham, and this pool would definitely push their limits.             

            Friday night the Stars would draw the Bandits. With the memories of last weekends defeat fresh in their minds the Stars were anxious about the opportunity of redemption.  The Stars bats would quickly set the tone for the tourney scoring 13 runs, led by Wil Crowe’s 4 for 5 night including a home run, while Cameron Strickland and Heath Loyd would chip in 2 hits each.  Crowe would also keep the Bandits down as he pitched 4 innings allowing only 3 runs with 8 K’s.

            Saturday would bring the Memphis Travelers, who the Stars had not played in three years, but we were well aware how good their team was and its deep history of tourney wins.  The Stars again would jump out first, being the traditional coin toss loser, scoring 9 runs in the first inning.  That would be all Tyler Hill would need as he kept the Travelers off balance all game, even retiring 12 consecutive batters on a total of 24 total pitches.  Drake Byrd, AJ Simcox, and Jackson Reid would each have 2 hits to fuel the offense.  Stars 10-1.

            Saturday evening would bring the Vipers, a team the Stars have had many battles with over the years.  Pitchers Heath Loyd and Cameron Strickland would tame the snakes, holding them to 1 run and 3 hits.  The Stars bats would keep the pressure on, again scoring 4 runs in the first and finishing with 10 runs in the 5 innings.  Ben Breazeale, Reid, and Strickland would punch in 2 hits each.    

            The Stars would finsh with only 5 runs allowed in pool play which would give them the number 1 seed going into Sunday morning.  A night of bad storms and tornado warnings would push all game times back 2 hours. When the Stars arrived at the park they would learn, that they would again play the Georgia Bandits, for the third time in only 11 games.  The Stars would take patience to the plate, as the Bandits would use 4 pitchers and throw 99 pitches in 3 innings.  The Stars would squeeze out 6 runs and let Wil Crowe work on handcuffing the Bandits bats.  Well call him the Sheriff, because he would limit them to 2 runs over 4 scattered hits.   Breazeale and Loyd would led the Stars bats with another 2 hits each.

            The Stars would draw the Lakeview Pirates in the semi-finals and be within 1 game of their bid to Disney.  But the scrappy Pirates team would have none of it scoring 13 runs, as the Stars could not find the energy to play thru the long day and ultimately only finish with 3 runs.  Strickland would again lead the offense with 3 hits as the Stars championship dreams finally ended.

       At the TN Super NIT, the Stars drew a pool of South Forseyth War Eagles, Georgia Bandits, and the Atlanta Monarchs.  Pool play began Saturday against the War Eagles and the drive to Johnson City did not slow down the Stars bats.  The Stars opened the top of the first with 5 runs, added another 5 in the second, and finished with 18 thru 5 innings.  Lead by Cameron Strickland's 3 for 4, Ben Breazeale's 4 for 5, Heath Loyd's 3 for 3, and AJ Simcox 3 for 4 the Stars keep the score board moving.  Wil Crowe and Drake Byrd held the Eagles to 7 hits and 2 runs scored.  The Stars draw only got tougher as their next game was Nationally top 10 ranked Georgia Bandits.  Crafty pitchin by the Bandit Anglin keep the Stars off balance all game as they could only muster 6 hits.  Tyler Hill and Strickland slowed the Bandits bats but could not contain them as the Bandits gave the Stars their first loss of 2008, 6 - 0.  Next up was another top 10 foe in the Atlanta Monarchs.  The Stars bats got back on track but could not match the Monarchs and got the early tourney exit with a 8 - 4 lose.  The Stars overall felt good about the weekend being their 5th, 6th, and 7th games of the season, but knew that they had more to prove and that they could play with the big boys.  

  Knoxville Stars win big in Sevierville

  The 2008 Stars kicked off new season in style with 4 solid wins in East Tennessee Volunteer Classic.  Tyler Hill took the mound on Friday night to led the Stars against the Cherokee Reds of Maryville.  After 5 innings of work, Hill held the Reds to 2 runs on 2 hits and had 7 k's.  The Stars scored 12 runs in the 5 inning affair, which was capped by a 8 run 5th inning, and a Drake Byrd bomb to center.  Saturday had the Stars playing the East Tennessee Elite followed by the West Cobb Huskies.  In the first game, Garrett Clark and Byrd combined forn the pitching duties and in the four innings allowed only 2 runs.  Offensively, the Stars keep swinging and scored 14 runs.  Cameron Strickland led the Stars with 2 triples and a double and count em a amazing 6 RBI's in the game.  Heath Loyd also had 2 doubles, Tyler Hill also had a double and a single and Aaron Aucker was 2 for 2.  In the late game, the Stars keep the bats going scoring 13 runs and holding the Huskies to 3 runs.  AJ Simcox had a double and a single and Aaron Aucker was 2 for 3.  Sunday brought the Championship round and the rain, but the #1 seeded Stars wanted to hit some more.  Matched against the Elite again, Cameron Strickland took the mound and in the 2 inning rain shortened game, keep them hitless with 4 k's and no runs.  Offensively, the Stars started quickly as the rain clouds loomed and scored 9 runs over the 2 innings before the tourney was called giving the #1 seeded Stars the Championship.   

  The Knoxville Stars took the field in Knoxville at the Halloween Bash and gave a teaser to the capabilities of what 2008 holds.  The team started in game 1 playin the Blue Rigde Blaze on Saturday.  Tyler Hill led the way pitching 3 strong innings and big hits by Garrett Clark and Aaron Aucker helped push the Stars to a 10-2 victory.  In the second game the Stars faced the Johnson City Dillas.  Using a pitching combination of Wil Crowe, Drake Byrd, and Heath Loyd the Stars allowed only 3 runs. Head coach Doug Byrd called in a offensive explosion, lead by 2 triples from Garrett Clark, a centerfield bomb by Wil Crowe, and timely 3-3 hittin by Jackson Reid to score 24 runs. 

   The victory put the Stars in the Championship round vs the 3rd seed Nashville Legends on Sunday. The  Stars started slow and after the first inning were down 4-2.  Heath Loyd came to the rescue pitching 4 strong innings, holding the Legends bats scoreless and givin the Stars bats time to come alive for a final 7-4 victory.  Into the Championship the Stars went to again face the Blue Ridge Blaze.  The Stars again continued to hit the ball and scored 7 runs in the first inning.  That lead was enough for the Stars, who completed the win with a 11-3 victory to bring home the gold.