By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Columbiana City Council recognized members of a local youth baseball team for becoming state tournament champions recently.

Players on the Shelby County 9U Dizzy Dean State Championship team and their families filled the Council Chambers on July 16 as Mayor Stancil Handley presented City of Columbiana pins to each player.

“We’re very proud of them,” Handley said. “Thank you for coming to council tonight and letting us meet you.”

The team, comprised of 9-year-olds, went 11-1 in three tournaments: Wildcat Invitational Champion (3-0), Dizzy Dean Regional Champion (3-0) and Dizzy Dean 9U State Tournament Champion (5-1).

The team lost in the winners’ bracket final to Chelsea in the state tournament, beat Northport in the losers’ bracket final and then beat Chelsea twice in the finals.

Team members are Kollin Keef, Colin Cox, Luke Venable, Nate Byrne, Brodie Holliman, Kevin Corbin, Skylar Smith, Clayton Ellison, Sutton Reed, Terryson Beam and Alex Flemming.

Coaches are Michael Venable, Zeb Ellison, Gary Corbin and Jamey Smith.

“They did a fantastic job all summer,” Councilman Ricky Ruston said. “(It was) a great effort by everybody. I know they’re excited.”

In other business, the council:

• Authorized the mayor to sign a contract for audio/visual technology for the new Shelby County Arts Council building, accepting the bid from Reliant Media.
• Authorized the mayor to sign a contract for fiber conduit for the new Shelby County Arts Council building, accepting the bid from LEK Technology Group.
• Approved for Marketing Director Elizabeth Smith to attend the Alabama Tourism Conference in Huntsville on Aug. 18-20, with total charges not to exceed $850 (the cost for the conference is $425, and lodging is $225).
• Approved adding the Executive Director – Shelby County Arts Council job description to the City’s Classification Plan.
• Authorized a pay increase for Chris Lee with the sewer department because of increased work load.
• Approved for Police Chief Lamar Vick and Lt. Jeff Bowers to attend the Chiefs Conference in Gulf Shores on July 28-Aug. 1, with total charges not to exceed $450 (the cost for the conference is $225 each).