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SPORTS
State police commander coaches girl's softball
Winfield Middle School softball coach Kevin Dixon helps his team practice some infield plays before a game.
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WINFIELD -- Despite his demanding job as detachment commander with the West Virginia State Police in Winfield, Kevin Dixon has taken on the role of coach for the Winfield Middle School girl's softball team.
This is the first year for the team at Winfield Middle. It is an achievement that will aid with the development of young players.
"It's very important for the girls," Dixon said. "It's a chance to play competitive softball. Most have come up through Little League systems. Some have played some travel ball, but most have not at this age. This is something that lets them gain some softball experience.
"When you start a middle school program, it's going to help the high school. It will just feed into it and keep them going."
Dixon has a daughter on the middle school team and has already seen another daughter go through the high school ranks and is now playing college softball.
"The people have been talking about starting a middle school team and the kids wanted to play," Dixon explained. "We were ecstatic with the number of girls interested in playing. We had to fundraise the money needed to start a program. Some of the parents wanted me to be involved because they knew I had some experience coaching high school softball.
"I have a pretty demanding full-time job already," Dixon added. "I don't know from one minute to the next what I'm going to be dealing with. But it works out well. I'm fortunate that I have seven people where I'm stationed. With softball season, it's all give and take with my job.
"There's times when the other guys have things to do. We cover for each other. It all works out well. That's the way it's supposed to be. We're all one big, happy family."
Winfield High does not have a junior varsity team. So unless a player can make the leap to varsity, there was a gap that needed to be filled.
"They still need to have a JV team," Dixon suggested. "It allows kids to get some extra work in before they're ready for varsity ball."
Winfield, Hurricane and George Washington are all fielding middle school teams this season. Winfield also plays Logan, Ripley, Ravenswood, Hamlin and Guyan Valley in a 15-game schedule.
"We've been competitive in all of our games. The kids have improved so much since we started. It's been very beneficial to them."
