The Bell County Courthouse hosted a special ring ceremony  on Wednesday for the Middlesboro-Bell County-Pineville Senior League All-Star Softball Team that won the state championship this summer.

The team was coached by Chris Jackson and Miranda Ingram and included Adyson Scott, Madison Helton, Kenley Foster, Kenna Lawson, Keevi Betts, Kobi Mason, Abby Jackson, Jenna Baker, Alexis Middleton, Trinity Partin and Abney Allen.

“What a cool thing. State champions — it’s hard to do that in anything,” Judge-Executive Albey Brock said in congratulating the team. “I’m super-proud of you and you all are a testimony of what we can accomplish when we come together.”

Kristy Burnett of the MBP Little League agreed that the joining of the Middlesboro charter and Pineville-Bell County charter into one league for the whole county has been a success.

“Because of the combination of the Pineville-Bell charter and the Middlesboro charter we were able to have 21 teams and five All-Star teams this year,” she said. “We’re coming together and showing our kids that no matter whether you wear Yellow, Maroon or Blue, we’re all together when it comes to this.

“These girls have done something that no other team from either charter has ever done. They won a state championship and then went on to win a game at the region tournament. This is a special group of girls. I’m very proud of them.”
Coach Chris Jackson said it was an honor for him to be able to coach this group of girls.

“I’ve coached softball for several years, a lot of them I coached before, some I never coached until this year. But bringing the whole county together to have one big team has been an honor,” he said. “And it’s not just the girls, I had a great group of parents. You can see a lot them have these shirts on today. We couldn’t do it without you guys. Thank you.”

Brock was joined at Wednesday’s ceremony by Pineville Mayor Scott Madon and Bell County PVA Ben Barnett.

Kristy Burnett wanted to thank everyone who helps to make the Little League and its All-Star teams possible.

“We have so many people in our community that donate to Little League every year to make sure these kids have their uniforms and the proper equipment,” she said. “We work with the schools, we work with the cities. I appreciate Albey, Scott (Madon) and Boone (Bowling) and all of the school superintendents for working with us.”

Each member of the team was called up and presented their championship ring by Jackson and Ingram. The coaches were then presented their rings by Burnett.