Capital Park All-Stars Head to World Series
July 01, 2021
After weeks of practice and winning a best-of-three championship series, the Capital Park All-Star team earned a ticket to compete in the Dizzy Dean World Series in Southaven, Miss.
This is the first time the Capital Park All-Star team has participated in the World Series. To celebrate the young athletes' accomplishments thus far and show support, City of Tallahassee leaders gathered with the team on Tuesday, June 29.
"They are creating memories," said Michael Smith, an administrator with FAMU for more than 30 years who also volunteers as a team coach. "They are also creating pathways to dreams and opportunities that they have because they're doing something, in some cases, that none of them have done before."
Capital Park has a long history of providing youth baseball opportunities in the City of Tallahassee. Some notable players that have been on the field are David Ross, the Chicago Cubs current manager; Mallex Smith, now a member of the Cincinnati Reds; and Tramayne Holmes, who plays with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Participating and competing in sports builds character and instills life lessons of what it means to work hard, better your craft and form relationships with others. "If they take that same attitude to their endeavors in life," Smith said, "then they will be champions in the classroom, in the community and in the competition."
The team has 12 players (listed by name and jersey number): Kylan Johnson, 1; Marvin Green Jr., 3; Jalen Wiggins, 4; Christian Ferguson, 5; Leelend Chapman, 6; Troy Williams, 7; Cole Allbaugh, 13; Alphonza Gammons, 15; Ka'Manii Williams, 24; Zayden Jones, 27; Jayden Jones, 28; and Jacob Gray, 29. The team coaches are Walter Wiggins, Elkahn Gray, Shawn Ferguson, Michael Smith and Mark Hendrickson.
The team left today, July 1, to be in Southaven for the opening ceremonies on July 2. The tournament will be played July 3-8. Follow the bracket online and find out more information about Dizzy Dean.
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