CONCORD – Blake Hill, 12, son of Wayne and Mary Beth Hill of Windsor, was recently recognized with his teammates during a North Carolina Amateur Athletic Union banquet honoring some of the top baseball players in North Carolina.

During the banquet, held in Concord, the Hurricane Baseball 12-Under Team was presented with AAU rings in recognition for winning the Fall State Championship in Concord last fall. The team also won the Super Regional Tournament in Kinston, which qualified them for participating in the Tournament of Champions in Cooperstown in August 2005.

&uot;This a real honor for me and for all of the Hurricanes,&uot; said Hill, the only member of the team from Bertie County.

Hill, a pitcher and shortstop, has been a dedicated baseball player since the age of 6 and has made the All-Star team every year since he started playing.

Hill’s father, Wayne, who also coaches the team with Jim Pearce and Jason Gee, said that he is proud of all the boys.

&uot;We really worked hard this year, and they all deserve to be recognized.

The Tournament of Champions is only for the best of the best.&uot;

The team consists of players from throughout Eastern North Carolina, including Greenville, Winterville, Williamston, Plymouth, and Columbia.

Hill also has recently been recommended to represent the United States in international competition as a People to People Sports Ambassador.