Dixie Boys all-star team to make World Series decision

An Alabama High School Athletic Association rule will have an impact on whether an Enterprise all-star baseball team will play in its World Series.

The Enterprise Dixie Boys (14U) all-star team won the state championship when it beat Selma twice July 20 to earn the right to represent Alabama at the 2016 Dixie Boys World Series, which begins Aug. 6 in Pineville, La., after opening ceremonies.

The majority of the players on the all-star team also play within the Enterprise High School baseball program, and EHS athletic director Trent Trawick recently made the team aware participation in the World Series could affect which EHS baseball team the players play on next season because of the AHSAA's 50-percent rule.

"We have had a very surprising and disappointing turn of events with the 14U team," Enterprise Dixie Boys coach Jason Brunson said in a text message statement to The Southeast Sun. "We have been told by Trent Trawick at EHS that if we go to the World Series only five of our kids (who are ninth graders except two) can play on the JV team at EHS next year."

The 50-percent rule, which is located under Rule 1, Section 6B on page 25 of the 2015-16 AHSAA Handbook, limits the number of student-athletes who will play on one EHS team next season who may play on a non-school team such as the all-star team.

"Participation (includes practice) during the school year on a non-school team outside the school season by students that will play the following season on the same high school varsity or junior varsity/B-team (grades 7-12) is limited to 50 percent of the number of players required to play the game (i.e., three in basketball, six in soccer, five in baseball, etc.)," the handbook said.

The team was made aware of the situation because many of the players will be able to compete for the Wildcats' junior varsity team next year.

"The whole situation with the 14U All Stars, it's a very unfortunate situation," Trawick said. "Basically, it's a timing issue. The majority of the team playing on the 14U (team) also played on our junior high program last year, (and) obviously will be eligible to try out for our junior varsity in the spring. Due to the fact of a longtime rule, the 50-percent rule, as the athletic director here at Enterprise High School I always want to be proactive. I made the parents aware there was a possibility if these guys played in the tournament, there would be some consequences in the spring with them playing together because of the 50-percent rule."

Trawick said the players' eligibility would not be in question no matter the team's final decision, but they would not all be eligible to compete on the same EHS junior varsity team if they played in the tournament.

"There's no issue (with) if they would be able to play," he said. "The issue is if they would be able to play together. The key is together. We just wanted the parents to realize there may be some (players who) have to sit back on the junior high (team), because there's only five slots if they play together on the JV team."

The EHS athletic director also said he received word from the ASHAA no exceptions to the rule were available.

"In a quest to try to help these guys and parents out, I even contacted the Alabama High School Athletic Association to verify there was no exemption for all stars," Trawick said. "They said there was no exemption, that the 50-percent rule applied to every organization. Not just baseball, but anything after that first fall day of practice, which this year fell on Aug. 1."

After the team was informed of the situation, Brunson said it conducted a meeting.

"During the team meeting (Wednesday) night, the parents decided to allow the kids to vote on their participation (or not) in the World Series (versus) the potential of playing JV baseball," he said. "Some of the kids voted not to go to the World Series so the potential opportunity to play on the JV team would not be compromised."

Brunson's statement said the team is currently not likely to compete in the World Series, but it could reach out to city and state officials. Brunson also said he wished to thank those who've helped the team as it prepared for its trip.

"At this point, it looks like there will not be a 14U team from Enterprise playing in the Dixie World Series," He said. "There is some hope to get some other people involved…to help make the trip to the World Series happen, but it may be too late. I think we also need to say thank you to all that donated, and the money will still be used as we have to pay for uniforms that had been ordered."

Despite the situation, Trawick offered support to the team and said he wanted to make the rule clear.

"I want to let them know we support them 100 percent, but at the same time I don't want the parents to come back in the spring and say, 'If we would have known about this rule or if we'd have known about this situation, we might have made a different decision,'" he said. "I just wanted to lay everything out on the table."