TAYLOR — The annual Junior League World Series baseball tournament in Taylor came to a formal close on Sunday with the world championship game. The matchup was a replay of the world title game from a year ago with the Michigan District No. 5 hosts from Taylor North Little League battling Chinese Taipei.
The locals put up another good bout but the international champions from Shing-Ming Junior Little League ultimately earned a third straight JLWS title and a 10th such championship overall with a 5-0 victory.
That finals rematch capped off a busy and weather-altering slate of games throughout the week in Taylor. There was also no shortage of notable off-the-field moments as well, as we put a bow on the 42nd edition of the Junior League World Series.
Newcomers take home Home Run Derby crowns
A player from Nicaragua and the manager of Spain were the winners in the annual Junior League Baseball World Series Home Run Derby.
Enyel Gonzalez, one of the leading hitters for the Latin America champions from Nicaragua, won the players’ competition among a field of 18 batters, while manager Marc Carrillo of Europe-Africa Region champion Spain was the leader among nine competing coaches.
Both players and coaches swing 10 times at pitches from the mound at World Series Field. The winners hit four home runs apiece. They received a ballcap from each of the 12 regions represented at the 42nd tournament at Taylor’s Heritage Park.
‘Dream come true’ for Umpire Award winner
Stephen Reynolds of Jayton, Texas, has received the Chuck McAllister Umpire Award during the 2024 Junior League Baseball World Series.
The award is named for the late McAllister, a Taylor resident who was the first director of umpires for the World Series and served until his sudden death in 1999. In his memory each year, one member of the crew who best exemplifies the qualities and characters of McAllister receives the recognition.
Reynolds, who umpired his first Little League baseball game 30 years ago when an umpire didn’t show up for a game, said he has reached his goal of calling balls and strikes in a world series.
“I love working with kids and that’s why I started umpiring,” he said. “All I have to say is this is a dream come true. I was told this (Junior League World Series in Taylor) was the place I needed to come – that this was the best World Series.
“Tell your fellow umpires to come here.”
Umpire Stephen Reynolds, white hat, received the annual Chuck McAllister Award at this year’s Junior League World Series in Taylor following 30 years of umpiring Little League baseball. (Photo courtesy of Dave Gorgon)
Reynolds’ experience is wide. He umpired high school baseball from 2003-09 before becoming umpire-in-chief in his home District No. 38 in 2014. He has helped with the Texas West state tournament since 2015, called the Junior League Baseball Southwest Regional in both 2017 and ’18, and the Senior Baseball Southwest Regional in Seguin, Texas, in 2022.
Reynolds then became an intermediate umpire supervisor and educator in 2023. At the World Series, he even called a game on his 61 st birthday.
“In spite of all the complaint you get from fans,” he said, “it’s still the best seat in the house.”
Reynolds and his wife of 31 years Joanna are the parents of two adult children, Garrett and Jaylee. He is the county executive director in Dickens and Kent counties for the USDA Farm Service Agency, where he has worked for 35 years, administering all farm programs passed by Congress.
As a passion project, he and his wife joined forces with several others to create “Texas 1A Fan,” which covers all sports and other activities for 1A schools across Texas. In his spare time, he is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Jayden.
Ladies take center stage of opening ceremonies
Jennifer Hall, the first female to play in the Junior League Baseball World Series, was back in town to throw out the ceremonial first pitch this year. Hall played for Taylor Northwest in 1987.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Charlotte Monroe of Dearborn sang the national anthem during opening ceremonies.
Originally Published: August 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 06:02:00
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