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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The magical run the 6U Clanton All-Stars had to the 2023 All-American Youth Sports World Series came to an end with a fourth-place finish on July 15. Clanton went 4-2 at the World Series and advanced to the third-place game where they fell to the Purvis, Mississippi All-Stars 13-12.

“I told all of the girls after the last game, ‘You guys have many more softball games left to play,’” coach CJ Robinson said. “I just hope they never forget this summer, and I hope one day they realize how historic this run was. It is special, it really is.”

The 6U Clanton All-Stars played in five tournaments during their season and went 20-6 overall. Three of their losses during the season were to the eventual World Series winners West Mobile All-Stars. The other three losses Clanton had were by a combined four runs.

“It was a great experience for those girls, and I just cannot say enough about them,” Robinson said. “Half our losses came to the world champs … They were in every game, we won a lot of close games. The girls did not back down and did not make any excuses.”

Clanton arrived in Brandon, Mississippi for the World Series on July 13 and immediately captured two wins, the first a 12-5 win over Semmes All-Stars. Clanton ended their first day of the World Series with an 11-1 rout of the Pike County, Georgia All-Stars.

The following day, Clanton split their two games with an 8-5 win over Purvis, Mississippi All-Stars and an 18-7 loss to West Mobile All-Stars.

Clanton needed another win over Pike County, Georgia All-Stars on July 15 to advance to the third-place game. They got it prevailing 16-5 and advanced to play Purvis, Mississippi All-Stars with a bronze medal on the line. However, Clanton fell one run short, 13-12, to Purvis to finish fourth in the World Series.

Robinson has coached various sports for men’s and women’s, and for adults and kids. He said he has never been a part of a team, top to bottom, where everyone worked as hard as the Clanton 6U All-Stars did.

“This team has the “It” factor, and I cannot really tell you what it is, but you know it when you see it,” Robinson said. “As a group, these girls have it. I was blessed to be a part of the run they had, and it was definitely some of the most fun I have had on a ball field.”

Robinson thanked the city of Clanton and all of the businesses for making donations to help each player on the team travel to the World Series.

6U Clanton All-Stars Roster

Lyla Headley, Finlay Sullivan, Noah Hanzes, Emmy Clare Doucet, Emersyn Fancher, Zaylee Easterling, Stevie Shaw, Isla Robinson, Aurora Gallardo, Emma Johnson, Madi Burnett, Tatum Strong, Addison McCarley