Teams of the Lowndes County Amateur Baseball League just completed their third season. The Montgomery Citizens, a group of Lowndes County athletes, won the leagues championship, 15 – 4, and The Blackbelt Twins emerged as runners-up.
Citizens coach Albert Middleton said the competitions, more than a trophy and bragging rights, foster a sense of community, giving young men and their families an outlet and fun activity to participate in together.
“It’s something to do on weekends,” Middleton said. “We try to involve the kids, so they have something to keep them out of trouble, something to do besides hang around the house.
League Commissioner John E. Hulett, a retired judge for the City of Hayneville, launched the league two years ago to bring back a rural community pass time he enjoyed as a youth.
“We used to have [community baseball] when I was a child coming up,” Hulett said. “I played in this league.”
According to Hulett, the Lowndes County league began around 1957, but was discontinued for a while. He relaunched the effort in 2024 and hopes to add four more teams to the league’s third season.
“It’s hard to get the children to play,” Hulett said. “We have a few young men from the area, but others come from everywhere because they want to play. We just try to mix it up and play.”