Area players second at World Series

Three local baseball players had a successful season as members of the West Tennessee Indians, capping their season off with a second place finish in the USSSA 8-and-under AAA World Series in Orange Beach, Ala.

Austen Baker of Phil Campbell, Cole Barnett of Russellville and Ridge Raper of Bear Creek helped guide the Indians to a 10-2 record at the World Series, which featured 28 teams.

The Indians held try-outs in August and 12 boys were selected — four from Alabama, seven from Tennessee, and one from Mississippi.

The team played in five tournaments in the fall, then took a break before practice started up again in December.

The first tournament of the spring was held the first weekend of March, and the team played most weekends from March until they competed in the World Series in early July. Tournaments were held all over Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, including Memphis, Nashville, Tupelo and Florence.

The Indians finished the season with a record of 52-28 and are ranked No. 7 in the nation.