Junior Boys World Series begins tonight

Alabama National Guardsmen will deliver the game ball to the field via a UH-1 helicopter as the Junior Dixie Boys World Series kicks off Friday at 8 p.m.
The Junior Dixie Boys World Series runs through Wednesday, Aug. 5, and the games will be played at the Enterprise Recreational Complex on Highway 167 North. Participating teams are from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina and Texas.
This is the second of two back-to-back tournaments hosted by Enterprise and the Parks and Recreation Department this summer. The first, a Machine Pitch AA Regional All Star tournament, included nine out-of -town teams and the host home team. Those games were played at the Enterprise Youth Complex behind the Jug Brown Recreation Center. Parks and Recreation staff have been working this week to prepare the Highway 167 site.
Enterprise Parks and Recreation Department Director Billy Powell said the city bid on the opportunity to host the tournaments and was judged on criteria including facilities and team housing capabilities. “We met and exceeded all their requirements,” he said. “Being selected to host these tournaments is a good thing for all of Enterprise.”
Powell coordinated with area hotels and restaurants to ensure that they were aware of the pending influx of visitors.
“The Parks and Recreation Department is an integral part of our tourism efforts,” Enterprise Chamber of Commerce President Phil Thomas said. “In fact, both Billy (Powell) and Warren (Bowron, program coordinator for the department) are key members of our tourism committee.”
With more than 1,000 players, coaches and family members coming to Enterprise for the tournaments, the economic boost to the city may exceed $560,000, Thomas said. “Not only do our guests use our hotels, they eat in our restaurants and they shop in our stores.”
Thomas’s best guess is that each adult visitor spends about $75 a day and that every dollar spent turns over five times. “The multiplier effect of that dollar is a great for tourism.”
“We’re excited about the opportunity to host so many visitors,” Thomas said. “And we hope we provide enough hospitality that they’ll want to come back.”
(Info box)
Opening Day Schedule
Saturday, Aug. 1
4 p.m.:
Field Two
Mississippi versus Louisiana
Field Three
Alabama versus Arkansas
Field Four
Georgia Versus Tennessee

7 p.m.:
Field Two
North Carolina versus Virginia
Field Three
Florida versus South Carolina
Field Four
Texas versus Enterprise