Soddy-Daisy's Tre Carter (42) touches helmets with teammates as he touches home for the first of his two home runs in the game. The Ooltewah Owls met the Soddy-Daisy Trojans in the District 5-AAA baseball tournament. The game was held at Cleveland High School Baseball field on May 7, 2016. 
Dylan Bice pitches for Heritage during a 4-3 win over visiting Chamblee in the first round of the Georgia state playoffs Friday. Heritage won the second game 12-2.It may have taken a bit longer than any of them wanted, but Saturday's conclusion to the Major League Baseball draft worked out just fine for a trio of area high school stars.
Soddy-Daisy's Tre Carter and Trion's Gabe Howell had expectations of being picked during Friday's draft session, which covered rounds three through 10, but when the day ended each was left disappointed. Neither had to wait too long Saturday. Carter, the Trojans' three-sport star, was nabbed in the 11th round by San Diego, and Howell, the Best of Preps player of the year, saw a dream come true when he was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 20th round.
Heritage right-handed pitcher Dylan Bice was picked three rounds later by the Texas Rangers.
Each has agreed to sign, forgoing college scholarships. Carter, a speedy outfielder, was committed to Tennessee, while Howell was going to junior college baseball factory Chipola and Bice was headed to East Tennessee State.
The opportunity to begin life as a professional was too good to pass up for each of them.
"Ask anybody who knows me and this is what I've always wanted to do," said Carter, who was in the batting cage hitting early Saturday evening as he prepared for the next stage of his life. "I just picked up a bat when I was little and never quit playing. It's fun for me and it brings me joy.
"It's been pretty hectic, but for the most part I'm glad we have everything squared away. I feel relieved. I really like the Padres and the contact I had with the scout who scouted me, Tyler Stubblefield."
Trion's Howell, who had turned down a pair of offers earlier in the day and was prepared to go to college, couldn't say no to the hometown Braves.
"That's been my dream since I can remember watching baseball, to play for the Braves," he said. "I was totally excited getting that call. I was sitting in my living room, not even watching the draft, and it was the Atlanta Braves saying they were about to take me with their next pick. I started grinning. It just felt like the weight was lifted on my shoulders."
Howell, a shortstop at Trion, said the Braves will start him out at third base, which was another factor in his decision to accept the offer. He, like Carter and Bice, will leave early next week for rookie ball. The plans are for Howell to advance to low-A Rome next year, another exciting development for his family and friends.
"We're pretty excited in Trion, Georgia," Bulldogs coach Jason Lanham said. "It's a big day to have an Atlanta Brave. From talking to him he wouldn't have gone to any other team at this stage. I know yesterday there was a lot of disappointment. At the end of the day he's right where he belongs. When he gets to Class A he'll be just a few minutes away."
Heritage's Bice was a late bloomer in scouting circles. In fact, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was first noticed last summer when a scout saw him pitch and became intrigued.
"Last summer, during a game with my exposure summer team, I pitched one inning during a game and a scout from the Tigers ran me down," Bice said. "He said my roster number on the program said I was 5-10 and he said, 'You're obviously not 5-10.'
"Wow, a major league team tracking me down was exciting. From that moment on I wanted to work to get to that level. I really want to thank Brandon Turner and eXposure Baseball, (Heritage) Coach (Eric) Beagles and my family for everything they've done for me.
"Today my dream came true."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22