![Andrew Kulis, left, scoops up a ground ball during defensive drills for the Verde Valley All-Stars [ages 10 to 11] practice at Riverfront Park on Friday, June 17.](http://journalaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/EX_VVLL_10-11_base_6-22.jpg_2-696x484.jpg "Andrew Kulis, left, scoops up a ground ball during defensive drills for the Verde Valley All-Stars [ages 10 to 11] practice at Riverfront Park on Friday, June 17.")
Verde Valley Little League Commissioner Jayne Lee officially announced All-Star rosters Monday, June 20, setting the tone for what should be a solid All-Star season for young Cottonwood baseball players.
Leading the way for Cottonwood will be the Verde Valley All-Stars [ages 10 to 11], who are coached by Pete Kelly.
Kelly believes this is one of the better teams he’s had, and he predicts a solid tournament come Friday, June 24, in Camp Verde.
“We’re looking good,” Kelly said in an interview Friday, June 17. “I think we have a really good shot of winning the district title.”
![Outfielder Alissa Webb stretches for the catch during practice for the Verde Valley Juniors All-Stars [ages 13 to 14] softball team at Riverfront Park on Friday, June 17.](http://journalaz.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/EX_VVLL_13-14_soft_6-22.jpg_2.jpg)
Standouts making the All-Star team for Kelly are 11-year-olds Ben Grandy, Josh Scalf, Gus Henley, Matt Bachler, Samuel Kunze and Jose Pacheco.
Kelly’s boys are set to face the Camp Verde All-Stars this Friday at Butler Park with a first pitch start time of 7:30 p.m.
For the Verde Valley Majors All-Stars [ages 11 to 12], Creighton Kim and his group of players are looking forward to their tournament, which is slated to begin Tuesday, July 5, at Mountain Valley Park in Prescott Valley.
“We have an all-around good team. It looks to be a promising year,” second-year manager Kim said Monday.
Top players for the Majors are 12-year-olds Trever Galloway, Jordan Estrada and Bailey Pelletier while 11-year-olds Tyler Kelly and Mitchell Lindsay also made the team.
In the Minors [ages 9 to 10] division, Verde Valley sports a solid team led by 10-year-olds Chris Mathe, Justin Tanner and Evan Favorite. Head Coach Chris Taylor takes the helm for the Minors, who are scheduled to begin their tournament Friday in Chino Valley.
As for softball, the girls are just as talented as the boys, and the Verde Valley Juniors All-Stars [ages 13 to 14] are ready for action under Head Coach Kirsten Lennon.
Lennon has several solid players including 14-year-olds Audrey Tollison, Michaela Dixon and Tyler Lennon.
The Juniors begin their trek for a District 10 title Tuesday, July 5, at Riverfront Park in Cottonwood. Verde Valley is scheduled to play the Wickenburg All-Stars on Tuesday with a first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
