Morgan City AA All-Stars begin state tourney Thursday

The Morgan City AA All-Stars will begin state tournament play Thursday at the Louisiana Dixie Youth 2016 AA State Tournament in West Monroe Thursday.
Pool play will continue through Friday.
While the other teams in their pool were not available, Morgan City will begin tournament action with a contest against Buckeye, District 8’s third-place finisher, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, Morgan City will face Oakdale Americans, District 7’s fourth-place team, at 10:15 a.m. Morgan City will face Shreveport, the District 4 champion, at 2:15 p.m.
Morgan City enters state tournament play after outscoring its district opponents a combined 66-33. The squad started off the tournament 3-0 before falling to Franklin in the championship game, 17-10.
Morgan City coach Keith Daigle said his team has been improving and have been doing what he has asked of them.
“It’s one of the most talented teams I’ve ever been a part of,” he said.
He noted the parents also have been supportive of the team.
At the state level, the team can use a bigger barrel bat than at district, so the squad has been working with some of the different bats.
As for what he expects this weekend, he said simply effort and keeping a positive attitude.
Franklin also advanced to the state tournament and will be playing in pool A.
This year’s tournament will feature a new look with six pools with four teams in each. Each team will play three games, with the top two teams advancing. The six pool champions will play in a double-elimination bracket.
Second-place teams from pools A-C will draw for a bye. The two teams that don’t draw a bye will play each other and the winner will face the team that drew a bye.
The second-place teams from pools D-F will use the same system as those second-place teams from pools A-C.
The winners to come out of the matchups of second-place teams from pools A-C and pools D-F will advance to the double-elimination bracket with the champions from each pool. Those eight teams will play for the right to advance to the world series in Laurel, Mississippi.
The remaining 16 teams at the tournament will play in a single-elimination consolation bracket.
Morgan City’s All-Star team consists of Jamyre Bias, Bryan Cordero, Conner Daigle, Tate Fontenot, Kade Gagliano, Maddox Justilian, Ja’Kavior Kemp, Jackman Lind, Jade Oliney, Chaz’ Pickens, Lucas Pickens and Landyn Ramagos. In addition to Daigle, other coaches are assistants Jeff Fontenot, Mike Pickens and Ariel Cordero.