NATCHEZ — Shavoke Herrington, 12, said being an All-Star meant big things for him.

“It’s all right,” Herrington said. “It feels like I’m coming up as one of the best players in the area.”

Herrington was selected as a catcher for the T.M. Jennings 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars, and he said he’s enjoying the position a lot, just like he did in the regular season.

“I’m one of the ones who surveys the whole field,” Herrington said. “I’m catching and telling people what to do.”

Although the 11s and 12s have only had a handful of practices, head coach Ernest Woods said he’s feeling good about his team’s chances to compete in the upcoming district tournament, which Natchez is hosting.

“They’re coming together really well,” Woods said. “After practice Friday, we played at Duncan Park on Saturday at the tournament they did. It was only the first practice that Friday, but we had a really good practice that night.”

Being able to play in Saturday’s tournament was a good way for the players to both jell and see live pitching.

“Jelling is the most important thing,” Woods said. “I feel like they’re coming along with gametime situations, like we saw playing with Dixie Youth. It puts them in game situations and lets me get them where I want them to be.”

Playing exhibition games also makes Woods’ job easier, he said.

“It lets me call pitches, and it’s also easier for them when they see live pitching,” Woods said.

When they’re not playing in scrimmage games, the 11s and 12s are often getting help from the Natchez Sluggers travel team. Head coach Darnell Barnes’ athletes are made up of former T.M. Jennings players that are now older than 12, and the Sluggers often play scrimmage games with the 11s and 12s.

Herrington said he enjoys playing against the older players, even if they do give the 11s and 12s’ a hard time.

“They always try to get in our heads,” Herrington said. “You learn a lot from your mistakes when you go against them. When you throw a mistake (pitch), they’ll hit it.”

Ernest Woods junior, a pitcher and shortstop, said he likes to play against the Sluggers simply because it makes him a better player.

“They don’t frustrate me,” Woods Jr. said. “I just play the game and have fun. If I mess up, I mess up.”

Woods Jr. also said he admires the older players.

“I like how fast and strong they are, and they teach us different things on how to play baseball,” Woods Jr. said. “I look up to them.”

The elder Woods also said he was very grateful to the Sluggers for helping the 11s and 12s get better.

“I love them to death for it,” Woods said. “They could be doing a thousand other things, but they’re doing something positive for the kids. The past three years, these guys have been runners-up in state, and they want to make sure our guys win (state).”