By Stephen Dawkins

Though their seasons are long over with, five North Chilton baseball players will take the field Saturday for a chance to possibly impress college scouts but to definitely raise money for a good cause.
The annual East/West Baseball event is a fundraiser for the Alabama Lions Sight Conservation effort, which helps provide eye care for indigent patients.
“Originally, the two things were to show off the kids and to get money for sight conservation,” said Danny Carter of the Clanton Evening Lions Club, which will host Saturday’s game at Jack Hayes Field.
Each of the two teams in the area game will be composed of 20 players.
Jemison senior outfielder Jacob Chapman and junior catcher/first baseman Scott Clements will participate. Representing Thorsby will be senior outfielder Evan Bryan, senior pitcher/infielder Brantley Bice and junior pitcher Cody Carroll.
The teams will play two six-inning games beginning at 1 p.m.
Seven players from the game will advance to the Central Alabama regional game, also to be played in Clanton, on May 22, according to district coordinator Don Hand.
Those seven will join six from the Demopolis area game and seven from the Tuscaloosa area game to form the West team that will face an East team composed of 10 players from the Tallassee area game and 10 players from the Montgomery area game.
Sixteen players from the regional game will advance to the state level played in Birmingham on June 5-6.
Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for school age children.
Carter said his club usually raises from $1,500 to $2,000 each year through the games.
“The parents are the ones that really drive it because they always come and watch their kids,” Carter said. “We can use all the support we can get.”