NATCHEZ — As July rolls on, another Dixie Youth league came to a close. Last night the Natchez Adams Girls’ Softball League held their closing ceremonies, giving out the trophies for all of the top teams, coaches, and players.

League organizer, Belinda Brashier, presented the awards. The top coaches for T-ball, coach pitch, 11 and under and 12 and under were Chris Hinson of Natchez Community Hospital, Chris Kelly of Natchez Coke, Jody Upton of Sonic and Greg Brown, of Natchez Bus Terminal, respectively.

Brashier stated that the awards did not go to the coaches that “won the most games, but taught the kids how to win, lose, and play with class.”

The biggest award of the night was the Riana Flynn Memorial Scholarship. This is given to one player out of the 300 involved each year.

In order to receive it, the softball board meets and votes on the participant who has been in the organization the longest and best exhibits the values of Dixie Youth Softball.

The $500 scholarship went to Brittany Jackson, 17, of Adams County Christian School. The award winner played for third place Natchez Bus Terminal under coach Greg Brown.

Brashier said Jackson earned the award because she displays quality sportsmanship, and is an amicable and outgoing individual.

She went on to say that never in Jackson’s 13 seasons with the softball league has the young lady presented a problem or difficulty. Jackson has played softball for Dixie Youth since she was only 4, beginning at the bottom with T-ball.

Jackson said she was surprised when she received the Riana Flynn Scholarship up until the moment when her parents’ names were mentioned.

The 17-year-old player said she was speechless and humbled about being presented the award. Jackson felt like there were players who were more deserving than she. She was so convinced of this that even after her school was referenced, the winner still thought someone else was going to get the grant. Even several minutes after the ceremony, it was obvious that the Flynn Memorial Scholarship recipient was still shocked as her mother Mary had to comment for her. She plans on using the award while attending Co-Lin College in Natchez, where she will work to become a pediatric nurse.