By Jessica Blomquist
Staff Writer

    The Morgan County summer league junior varsity and varsity teams will be playing at the 4th annual North Oconee Summer Shootout in Watkinsville this weekend, from Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 15.
    The tournament will host 42 teams from 1-A to 5-A at five locations: North Oconee High School, Oconee County High School, Prince Avenue Christian School, Clarke Central High School, and at Smith Field.
    Varsity Coach Brandon Patch, Junior Varsity Coach Josh Reeves, and assistant coaches Matt Montgomery, Jerry McCullough, Mike McSherrey, and Rob Brown will accompany the teams to Watkinsville.
    “We’re looking forward to it,” said Patch.
    The varsity team will be matched up with teams from Monroe Area High School, Oglethorpe High School, Hebron Christian Academy from Dacula, and West Forsyth High School.
    The junior varsity team will also be matched up with schools, including Jefferson High School and Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School from Athens. “It’s usually a real good tournament with good competition,” said Patch.
    The nearby location is also convenient for the team. “With gas prices the way they are, we don’t have to travel far,” said Patch.
    Though there is no championship game of the tournament, Patch said the main purposes of the event are to evaluate players’ performances, catch a glimpse of what next year’s team will be like, and practice for the regular season.
    The majority of the players from the regular season take part in the summer league. “It’s not a requirement,” said Patch. “But most of them do it because they want to get better.”
    The Varsity team currently has a record of 4-4, while the Junior Varsity team has a record of 3-3.