Twenty-two years ago, another Carroll County team put itself in a situation similar to this year’s Dixie League Pre-Major state champions.

That team from 1987 also won its state championship and went on to represent Virginia for a shot for a national title. While this year’s team of 15 and 16 year-olds will be traveling to Ozark, Ala. for its games, that team played in the 13 and 14 year-old World Series in Rock Hill, S.C.

Although their stay in the tournament was brief, the players on that team still look fondly on their time on the diamond together.

“To this day when you talk about it, it’s one of my top two sports memories,” said Joey Marshall, a centerfielder on the 1987 team. “I played all sports and that’s equal to when I was a junior in high school, we made the state tournament in basketball and played at UVa. Even though I was a lot younger, I was in seventh grade at the time, I remember the atmosphere. It was something you had never seen before, being around the other teams. You could feel it in the air, just walking around gave you goosebumps.”

Teddy Felts, now the Victim Witness Program Director for Carroll County, was a leftfielder and third baseman in 1987. He said good luck was smiling on their team back then just to make it to the World Series.

“Back in 1987, the tournament was held in Independence,” Felts said. “We were fortunate to come from the loser’s bracket and beat Blackstone two games in a row to win the championship.”

David Johnson, who caught, pitched and played both middle infield positions on the team, said beating Blackstone twice in a row was almost surreal.

“It was a miracle taking place before our very eyes,” said Johnson, who is now Associate Pastor at Sky View Baptist Church. “To beat them two times in a row to go to the World Series was unexplainable. After we won the second game, I can remember going around and looking at everybody’s faces and giving high fives and hugging people. It was a time I’ll never forget.”

It was also around that time the team established what would become their calling card at the World Series — black Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes.

“We wore Chuck Taylor tennis shoes when we weren’t on the field,” Johnson said. “People would see us wearing those shoes and people would say that’s the Carroll County team from Virginia.”

Marshall, who now owns Marshall’s Mowing and Landscaping, said the shoes came about because of an assistant coach and baseball superstition. To this day, Marshall said he can’t look at a pair of All-Stars without remembering the summer of 1987.

“What started that out was our assistant coach was Mike Montgomery and he wore those shoes,” Marshall said. “It ended up being one of those superstitions we felt was good luck during the district all stars. He wore them to the game and we rubbed the shoes. We felt like it was our good luck charm. Before we went to the state, each player purchased a pair of black Chuck Taylors. We rented a van and on the window, one of the parents painted a picture of those shoes. When I see a picture of Chuck Taylors to this day I think of the World Series.”

Their stay in Rock Hill wasn’t long, as a loss to Florida and heartbreaker to North Carolina ended their season, the players enjoyed their time together.

“Back then we had such a close-knit group of guys,” Felts said. “We were fortunate to be able to do that. We had great coaches. It was great all the way around.”

Johnson said he hopes this year’s team can make a better showing this time.

“I’m excited for them,” Johnson said. “I hope they go further than we did. I think we ended up 11th in the nation after it was all said and done.”

Marshall said if he had any advice for the players, it’s to relish this special time.

“Take it slow, don’t rush and take everything in,” he said. “Enjoy every minute win or lose. That memory will be there for a lifetime. Very few ever get to experience it. Cherish every moment.”

Felts said the 1987 team is rooting the 2009 team on, as is the rest of the Carroll County community.

“The whole community is proud of them for being able to persevere and go this far,” Felts said. “If I were going to give them some advice, it would be good sports about the tournament and represent the community well, …and good luck.”