Submitted photo Members of the Elkins Little League 9-10 year-old All Stars include, front row, from left, Alex Thompson, Parker Fike, Elim Schneider, Ridge Arbogast, Levi Plauger, Parker Halle, Luke DeWeese, Henry Badgett, Ellis Helmick, Nico Severino, Zaiden Sharp and Conner Martin. Members of the 11-12 year-old All Star team includes, from left, second row, Lincoln Cooper, Christian Sanson, Kyson Langevin, Anthony Torres, Liam Jackson, J.P. Jones, Beckett Pritt, Waylon McDonald, Kade Troastle, Maddix Hinkle, Jaxson Chenoweth, and Carson Riffle. Coaches for both teams include, back row, from left, Anthony Severino (9-10 manager), Justin Arbogast (9-10 coach), Dalton Schneider (9-10 coach), Mike Jackson (11-12 manager), Kevin Pritt (11-12 coach), and Kyle Langevin (11-12 coach).

ELKINS – For the first time in more than a decade, Elkins Little League Baseball will have more than one team competing in state tournament action.     

Both the Elkins Little League 9-10 year-old All-Stars and the 11-12 year-old All-Stars moved on to state tourney competition after stellar play in their respective district tournaments.   

“The success of our teams says a lot about the direction baseball is heading in our county,” 11-12 year-old manager Mike Jackson told The Inter-Mountain. “When you include t-ball and everything else we offer, we have close to 300 kids in the entire Elkins Little League program. The league is doing very well and youth baseball in the county is moving in the right direction.”   

The Elkins 9-10 All-Stars will be the first of the two teams to take to the diamond. The 9-10 year-olds will play their first state tournament game today at 7 p.m. when they face West Mon County in New Martinsburg.      

The 9-10 year-old year is managed by Anthony Severino, assisted by coaches Justin Arbogast and Dalton Schneider. Team members include: Alex Thompson, Parker Fike, Elim Schneider, Ridge Arbogast, Levi Plauger, Parker Halle, Luke DeWeese, Henry Badgett, Ellis Helmick, Nico Severino, Zaiden Sharp and Conner Martin.   

The Elkins 11-12 year-old team advanced to the state tournament after winning the District 8 championship. The 11-12 year-olds first game will be on July 18, as they travel to Barboursville to face Bridgeport in opening-round action at 4 p.m.   

The 11-12 year-olds are managed by Jackson, who is assisted by coaches Kevin Pritt and Langevin. Team members include: Lincoln Cooper, Christian Sanson, Kyson Langevin, Anthony Torres, Liam Jackson, J.P. Jones, Beckett Pritt, Waylon McDonald, Kade Troastle, Maddix Hinkle, Jaxson Chenoweth and Carson Riffle.     

“We are very proud of both of the All-Star teams,” Jackson said. “The kids have put the work in and they are doing all the things they need to do to prepare for these tournaments. They are a great group of kids who are eager to learn and they’re like one big family.”