The 2012 NC Dixie Baseball/Softball State Meeting was held on January 28, 2012 at the Hampton Inn & Suites Southern Pines-Pinehurst in Aberdeen.

 The meeting was quite a success with over 235 in attendance, with an outstanding lunch, 12 approved suppliers on hand, and nice door prizes.

The Dallas, Dunn, and Youngsville DYB leagues received National Directors awards for doing outstanding service within their communities. 

Billy Ransom was awarded the State Director's Award for his service and support of NC Dixie Youth Baseball, particularly in leading Moore County as an outstanding host for the 2011 Dixie Youth World Series. State Director Carey Wrenn also gave a State Directors Award to Moore County since it not only takes a great leader like Billy Ransom to host a successful World Series, but it takes a lot of support from many others. The citizens and other leaders in Moore County did just that as the host for perhaps the best DYB World Series ever held.    

Each District will hold a district workshop during the month of February. Please see "handouts" for the schedule.

Every League should have one or more representative(s) at the workshop in their district. League leaders and coaches are encouraged to attend.  

Each league is assigned to a District. Please "Handouts" for the Districts Alignment for 2012. 

The NCDYB State Board has voted to continue to use the North Carolina AA (Coach Pitch) rules rather than the National AA rules that are in the 2012 Dixie Youth Baseball rule book.

Note: the four (4) teams advancing to the Region 1 AA tournament in Powhatan, VA on July 28 will play by the National rules that are published in the 2012 Dixie Youth rule book.

See the Handout link for the 2012 North Carolina Dixie Youth AA rules.  

The 2012 Charles Lennon Scholarship practice games for regular season teams will be played March 30-April 1 in Elizabethtown, Clarkton and, if needed, Bladenboro and Dublin.

Please see the "Handout" links for more information and the registration form. 

The Buddy Burney Scholarship Practice Games for AA tournament teams will be held June 15-17 at Clarkton.  The Scholarship practice games for the Majors & AAA tournament teams will be palyed at Hallsboro, Evergreen and Lumberton on June 22-24.

Please see the "Handouts" link for the invitation letters and the registration forms for each set of games.  

Thank you for supporting the scholarship program by attending the games. No coolers are allowed and we ask that you support the concession stand provided by the hosts instead of going back and forth to the car for food. Some locations may charge for re-entry.

I want to thank the leagues that are hosting the games for their hard work and their wonderful hospitality.

The 2012 NCDYB State Tournaments will begin:

July 7-  AA at Lockwood Folly

July 7- Ozone at West Stanly (Locust)

July 14- Majors at Leland

July 21- AAA at Elizabethtown 

See the "Handouts" link for the brackets of the AA, AAA and Majors. The OZone brackets will be drawn as soon as we know how many leagues are going to particpate in the OZone State Tournament. Leagues must decide by April 15, 2012 on which 12-year old division they will play.  

An Opening Ceremony will be held on the Friday night before the start of the tournament.

NOTE: The District Directors will set the District Tournament dates to accomodate the changes in the State Tournament dates. Most District Majors Tournaments will be played prior to the AAA District Tournaments.  

The deadline for the applying for a Dixie Youth Baseball college scholarship is March 1, 2012. High School seniors who played at least one season of Dixie Youth Baseball can apply for a $2000 scholarship.

Scholarship applications can be downloaded from the Dixie Youth website at www.dixie.org and then clicking on the Dixie Youth emblem and then clicking on the scholarship link.

Twelve former North Carolina DYB players won one of the 70 national DYB scholarships awarded in 2011. North Carolina has now been awarded 144 scholarships since 1976. The 2011 winners are named under the Scholarship link on the Dixie Youth website at www.dixie.org You can access the Dixie Youth website by clicking on Links on the left side of this page.

The 2012 DYB Region 1 AA Tournament will start on July 28 in Powhatan, VA.

More information will be posted at later dates.

Four AA teams from North Carolina will advance to the tournament.

Tom Little, former District 4 Director and a Danny Jones Club Member, passed away on December 19 at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife of 59 years, Donna and two children.

Tom was instrumental in having South Park Youth Association join Dixie Youth Baseball. One of the fields at the SPYA complex is named in honor of Tom. Tom was a dedicated Christian.

Tom will be missed by many.  

The Danny Jones Club, named after the first Commissioner of Dixie Youth Baseball, is an excellent way to recognize and reward leaders of your local league.

Please send "handouts" for the application and other information about this great program.

Current members of the Danny Jones Club from North Carolina are:

Jiggs Powers- Whiteville and Columbus County--Sportswriter

J.B. Hickman- Whiteville Optimists--Longtime Financial Supporter

Paul Graham- Fairmont- League President, Coach, Financial Supporter

Tom Little- Charlotte South Park- League Incorporator and Supporter

Charlie Cole- Hope Mills-Coach, League Leader and Supporter

James Harper- Southport- Newspaper Publisher and Financial Supporter

Michael Mobley- Columbus County- League President, Coach, Scholarship Games Supporter

Steve Pitt- Indian Trail- League Leader

Thurman Ward- Nakina (Columbus Co)- League Leader, Coach, Supporter

Bill Messimer- Kannapolis- League Leader, Coach, Supporter

George Barber- Reidsville- League Leader, Caoch, Supporter

Larry Slater- Whiteville Optimist- Coach, League Leader, Umpire, Supporter

Cecil Curlee- Norwood- League Leader, Coach, Supporter

Bobby Child- Leland- League Leader, Coach, Supporter

Bill Johnson- Columbus County- League Leader, Coach, Supporter

Mike McDuffy- North Stanly- League Incorporator and Leader, Coach, Supporter

Don Harritan- Whiteville Optimists - League Leader

Terry Bell- Tabor City (South Columbus)- League Leader

Lois Mobley- Rose Hill- League Leader

Larry Brown- South Park- League Leader

Jerry Legge- Hope Mills- League Leader

Applications should be mailed to:

Carey Wrenn, State Director, 190 Sage Lane, Madison Heights, VA  24572

Wayne Casteen is the Umpire-in -Chief for North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball. He is responsible for scheduling umpire clinics throughout the state and for registering umpires eligible call in DYB tournaments.

His phone number is 910-285-7694 (h) and 910-289-8348 (c). His email address is 3rdstrike22@embarqmail.com

For 2011 we will use an "Application" for those who wish to call in State Tournaments. Please see the "Handouts" section under Umpire Information to download and application.

All applications should be sent to: Wayne Casteen  404 E. Southerland St. Wallace, NC  28466  or to Carey Wrenn at 190 Sage Lane, Madison Heights, VA 24572 by May 1, 2011.

The NC Majors DYB team (Dunn) lost 8-6 to Georgia on Wednesday night to finish in 3rd place in the 2011 Dixie Youth World Series. We congratulate Dunn on having a great year and representing NC in the Series such a successful manner.   

The NC AAA DYB team (West Robeson) lost 7-6 against Arkansas on Wednesday night to finish in 3rd place in the 2011 Dixie Youth AAA World Series. We also congratulate West Robeson in having a great year and representing NC in such a successful manner.

All games can be seen on Jockjive.com under the archive section.   

Dunn won the 2011 NC Dixie Youth Baseball State championship with a 18-1 victory over West Robeson National in the second game of the Championship Series. Dunn defeated West Robeson National 7-1 in the first game of the Championship Series.  Dunn will represent North Carolina in the 2011 Dixie Youth World Series in Carthage, NC beginning on August 13.

Leland won the Sportsmanship Award.

Please go to the Handouts link for the brackets.

Stanley is the AA Champion with West Robeson National being the runner-up. Bunn will be the 3rd place team and Dunn will be the 4th place team representing NC in the DYB Region 1 AA tournament in Florence on July 30. Congratulations to West Robeson, Stanley, Bunn and Dunn on advancing to the Region 1 tournament.  

Hope Mills American is the Champion in the "O"zone division. They, along with runner-up Reidsville, will represent NC in the Dixie Youth "O"zone World Series in Madison Heights, VA beginning on August 6.    

See the "Handouts" link for the brackets.  

West Robeson American defeated Whiteville Optimist in the 1st game of the best of three championship series by score of 16-5 and the second game by a score of 11-1 to win the 2011 NC Dixie Youth AAA state tournament and the Ken Britt AAA Championship Trophy. West Robeson American will represent NC in the Dixie Youth World Series at Carthage, NC beginning on August 13.

Southport-OI, the host team, won the Sportsmanship Award.  

Hope Mills American DYB defeated Reidsville 6-1 to win the 2011 NC Dixie Youth Baseball OZone state tournament. Reidsville won the first game of the night, 4-1, to force the deciding game to be played.

Both teams will advance to the OZone World Series in Madison Heights, VA that begins on August 6.

Eden Recreataion won the Sportsmanship award.

Stanley defeated West Robeson National by a score of 7-6 to win the 2011 North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball AA state tournament in Dunn, NC. Stanley lost its first game of the tournament but won six straight games to capture the championship trophy. West Robeson finishes as the state runner-up for the 2nd straight year.

East Duplin won the Buddy Burney Sportsmanship Award.  

Lois Mobley of Rose Hill has been inducted into the Danny Jones Club by Dixie Youth Baseball. She was given the award in a surprise presentation on April 17 during the Opening Day ceremonies of the Rose Hill league.

Lois has been the dedicated leader of the Rose Hill league for over 20 years. She was nominated by her local league and approved by the NC Dixie Youth State Board.

We congratulate Lois on the deserved inclusion into the Club that is named after the first Commissioner and co-founder of Dixie Youth Baseball.

The Dixie Youth Baseball Majors Champions from Lumberton, North Carolina defeated the AABC champions 14-4 to even its record at 1-1 in the National Youth Baseball Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. This was the first victory by a Dixie Youth 12U team in the three year tournament.

NC will play at 10am (EDT) on Saturday (August 28) for a chance to advance to the championship round. The game WILL be televised live on the MLB network.

Daniel Oxendine won the 12U home run derby in dramatic fashion. Daniel hit 3 home runs to lead the first round. Three competitors advanced to the second round. The first competitor did not hit any home runs in the second round. The second competitor hit 4 home runs before making 3 outs. Daniel came to bat and quickly made two outs. He needed 4 home runs before making another out. Daniel proceeded to hit 5 home runs to win the competition. This was Daniel's second home run championship. He won the DYB home run derby at the DYB World Series earlier this month.   

Lumberton (NC) DYB defeated Georgia 8-5 and 11-8 to win the 2010 Dixie Youth Majors World Series. They will move on to represent Dixie Youth Baseball in the Baseball Alliance Series in Memphis, TN at the end of August.

This is the 3rd DYB championship for North Carolina. Columbus County won in 1993 and Hope Mills won in 2006. Leland finished runner up in 2009.

Lumberton had to come back through the loser's bracket after dropping a game to Louisiana on Monday in extra innings.

The North Carolina O-Zone champions from Hope Mills, after advancing to the 4th round with two wins, won the Sportsmanship Award in the 2010 O-Zone World Series in Lexington, SC. The NC team lost their first game, then won 2 straight before being eliminated in the 4th round. Hope Mills also won the sportsmanship award at the NC O-Zone state tournament.

Lumberton defeated Dunn 9-3 in Game 2 to sweep Dunn in the best of three Championship Series, winning the 2010 North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball state championship. Lumberton will represent NC in the 2010 World Series in Gonzales, LA starting on August 7.

Dallas DYB won the Charles Lennon Sportsmanship Award. 

In Game 1 on Thursday night, Lumberton took an early lead on a Home Run by Raleigh Forrest. The game remained close until the bottom of the 5th inning. With Lumberton leading 2-1, Gage Hardin hit a 2-run single. Daniel Oxendine followed with a 2-run home run to push the lead to 6-1. Dunn rallied in the top of the 6th with mulitple hits, including a 2-run home run by Nash Johnson to make the score 6-4.

 See "Handouts" for the bracket.

West Robeson National (NC) defeated Lexington (SC) 12-5 to win the 2010 Dixie Youth Baseball Region 1 AA (coach pitch) tournament. Lexington defeated Dallas (NC) 7-6 in 9 innings earlier in the day to advance to the championship game.

Powhatan (VA) won the sportsmanship award. 

Please see the "Handouts" link for the brackets with scores, team letters, motel information and a map.

Southpark DYB won the 2010 North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball AAA tournament with back to back wins in Game 2 and 3 over West Robeson in the best of three series by scores of 4-2 and 13-0.

Southpark will represent North Carolina in the 2010 DYB AAA World Series in Gonzales, LA beginning August 7. This will be Southpark's second trip to the AAA World Series. Their first trip was in 1998.

Southpark also won the Ken Britt sportsmanship award.

Hope Mills American defeated Reidsville to win the 2010 North Carolina Dixie Youth O-Zone state tournament. Hope Mills will represent North Carolina in the DYB O-Zone World Series in Lexington, SC beginning July 31.

Hope Mills also won the sportsmanship award. 

The National Board of Dixie Youth Baseball has selected Moore County Dixie Youth Baseball as the host league for the 2011 Dixie Youth Baseball Majors/AAA World Series. The tournament will be played at Hillcrest Park beginning on August 13, 2011.

This will be the third World Series held in North Carolina. Leland hosted the 1979 Series and Cumberland County hosted the 1985 Series.

Billy Ransom, Moore County Parks and Recreation Director, and Beverly Stewart, with the Moore County Visitors Bureau, made an excellent presentation to the National Board of Directors in Laurel, Mississippi (site of the 2009 World Series) on Monday. The vote to award the Series was unanimous.

Carey Wrenn, NCDYB State Director, indicates he wants to involve all of the North Carolina Dixie Youth leagues in this event.

More information will follow throughout 2009 and 2010.

Buddy Burney, NC Dixie Youth Baseball National Director, passed away today, January 10, 2009 after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral arrangments:   There will be a vistitation from 4pm-7pm on Sunday, January 11 at the Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home located on the corner of NC 242 and Martin L. King Drive about 2 miles south of Elizabethtown. From NC 87 turn south onto ML King Drive and go about a half a mile. From US 701 turn west onto NC 242 and go about one mile.

The funeral will be at 2pm on Monday January 12 at the White Plains Presbyterian Church about 6 miles east of Clarkton. From the west, north and south, go to the intersection of US 701 and NC 211 in Clarkton. Travel east 5.9 miles until you get to the Emerson sign and turn north onto White Plains Church Road. Go 1.7 miles and the church will be on your right. From the east, traveling on NC 211, turn right onto White Plains Chruch road and then go 1.7 miles to the church.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers a contribution to the Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship Fund be sent to Carey Wrenn, NC State Director at 190 Sage Lane, Madison Heights, VA  24572.

Cards can be sent to the home at PO Box 668 Clarkton, NC  28433.

The Buddy Burney Day (see below) will be held as planned on January 17, 2009. 

Buddy has served many capacities in Dixie Youth since the 1970s. He has been a District Director, Assistant State Director and National Director (since 1999). Buddy will me missed very much by NCDYB. As listed in other articles on this website, he was instrumental in establishing the Scholarship games. He helped schedule the games, he worked the gate, he helped line up umpires and did much more in the various sets of games held each year in Elizabethtown, Hallsboro and Clarkton (his home town).

Buddy and I (Carey Wrenn) had a conversation in December. Buddy told me that he knew that Jesus Christ was his Saviour and that he knew that Jesus had died on the cross for him and that Jesus did arise from the grave and ascended into Heaven, where he (Buddy) will be with Him at the throne of the Father. While it is very sad news that we will not get to be with Buddy physically (we will be with him spiritually as we work and play this year), we can have joy that Buddy is in Heaven.

Buddy was beloved by almost everyone he met. He loved helping others, particularly children of all ages.

We ask that you pray for his family. He is survived by his wife, Leesa; a son, Frankie, who is a DYB District Director (wife Christie); two daughters, Corey and Casey; a sister, Geraldine; four brothers, Jim, Walt, Ronald, and Marvin; 3 grandchildren and many, many friends.    

The North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball AA (coach pitch) Practice (Scholarship) Games have been named the "Buddy Burney Practice-Scholarship Games". These games are held in June of each year and feature AA (coach pitch) All-Star teams from around the state. The games are designed to allow tournament teams to have practice games against teams from other districts as they prepare to enter Dixie Youth tournament play. They also serve as a fundraiser for the Dixie Youth Scholarship Fund. Over $80,000 has been raised for the Scholarship Fund in the almost 20 years that NC Dixie Youth has been holding the games (including other sets of practice games). Buddy Burney was one of the originators of the various sets of practice games. Buddy has always had a particular fondness for the coach pitch division. His home league, Clarkton Dixie Youth, has hosted the AA games since their inception a few years ago.

The Practice Games for regular season teams, which is held in April of each year in Elizabethtown and Clarkton, are named the Charles L. Lennon Games--after the former National Director (Mr. Lennon). NCDYB also holds practice games for the Majors and AAA divisions tournament teams in Hallsboro, Clarkton and other locations each June. All of the games serve as fundraisers for the Scholarship Fund.

The Sportsmanship Award given at the NCDYB AA State Tournament is also named for National Director, Charles "Buddy" Burney. The first named award was presented in honor of Burney to Oxford DYB at the 2008 NCDYB AA State Tournament at the Cape Fear Optimists Club complex in Wilmington on July 8, 2008.

Burney, from Clarkton, has been involved as a Dixie Youth official since the mid-1970s. He served as a District Director for many years and was elected to the National Board in 1999. He was instrumental in the inception of the Scholarship Practice Games in Elizabethtown and Hallsboro in the early 1990s and was the key person in starting the AA (Coach Pitch) Scholarship Practice Games in Clarkton several years ago.

Please join the NCDYB family in congratulating Buddy on this well-deserved honor. (Please see earlier News story about Buddy's illness.