Southaven, MS (July 9, 2023) Ooltewah Youth Association’s (OYA) 8u all-star team won the 2023 Dizzy Dean Softball World Series, while two other OYA teams finished runner-up.

The 8u Ooltewah Unicorns Elite defeated the Greenwood, Mississippi All-stars 11-10 in six innings to claim the championship. The game pitted the Tennessee State champions against the Mississippi State South champions. Ooltewah was down 3-2 until the 3rd inning, when Macie Ashworth blasted a two-run triple and Allison Sherbesman, Nora Hanzelik and Emery Harp had RBI hits to put Ooltewah ahead 7-2. 

Scarlett Fox hit a three-run homer in the 4th, and although Greenwood chipped away in the later inning, Ooltewah secured the victory with an amazing outfield catch by Harp.

Fox was named World Series MVP and made the all-tournament team, along with Findlay Howard, Aubrey Legge, Kolbi Davis and Sherbesman. The championship wouldn't have been secured without contributions from the entire roster, which includes Hadley Swilling, Hanzelik, Harp, Alyssa Howell, Ashworth, Malin Hunter and Brooklyn Hartwell.

This marks the third Dizzy Dean Softball World Series championship for an Ooltewah Youth Association team. OYA’s 6u team won in 2021, followed by the 8u team in 2022.

This year's 6u team, the Lady Owls Elite, and 10u team, the LunaChicks Extreme, finished as finalists in their respective age groups. 31 North All-stars from Gardendale, Alabama defeated the Lady Owls 17-16 in the 6u championship game, while the Grenada, Mississippi All-stars turned back the LunaChicks 8-7 in the 10u championship.

The Lady Owls placed four players on the all-tournament team, including Charley Phillips, Abigail Fox, Tess Johnston and Harper Schleifer.

The LunaChicks also placed four players on the all-tournament team. Khloe Denham, Baylee Sofield, Carleigh Davis and Briley Kibble received recognition for their outstanding play.