The USTBA Challenge Of Champions National Qualifier proved to be a true Tournament of Championships with great play and extremely exciting Championship games in all age levels.
In the 10U division Luke Berryhill of Team Wilson and Sylvester Toe of the Titans both hit 2 Home Runs, each easily clearing the 204 feet fence. Marcus McCorkle of the 13U Shiloh Heat smashed a homer with an estimated 350 foot shot and Ben Carraway of the Grizzlies hit the long ball easily clearing the 284 feet left field fence. The Big Hit of the tournament was the 270 feet "rare" Grand Slam hit by Triston Mooney of the 11U East Cobb Titans.
The American and National Division Championship and Runner-Up teams in the 11 & Under and the 13 & Under Divisions received National Championship Berths in Destin Florida June 28-July 3 and the 10 & Under American Division Champion and Runner-Up Teams received berths in Destin June 22-27.
10 & Under Recap
The 10U Division started out with an exciting game between the Calhoun Yard Dawgs and the North Georgia Bandits ending in a 9-8 win for the Dawgs in a close and competitive game.
The 10 & Under Division pool play ended with the Titans sitting 2-0 with 4 teams... Bandits, Warriors, Yard Dawgs and Wilson all with 1-1 records.
Game 1 of the play-offs seeded the Yard Dawgs versus The Bandits with the Yard Dawgs winning 11-4. Game 2 placed the Razorbacks against Team Wilson with Wilson coming out on top with a 5 run win and Team Wilson advancing on. In game 3, the Warriors and the Yard Dawgs battled it out in a 1 run nail bitter 6 inning game with the Yard Dawgs squeaking out the win 8-7. Game 4 matched up the #1 seed Titans against Team Wilson with the Titans continuing their winning ways and placing them in the Championship Game against the Yard Dawgs and the Dawgs 3rd game of the day.
Both teams came out hitting on all cylinders in a close game through 3 innings. The Titans bats keep plugging away on the Dawgs and their spent pitching staff, walking away with the win, the Championship and a perfect 4-0 tournament record.
11 & Under Recap
The 11U division was as competitive as it gets with a great level of play in the American and National division play-offs and Championship games.
American Division
The Kennesaw Mustangs, ECB Thunder, Paulding County Panthers, ECB Longhorns and the ECB Titans, all would Challenge each other to get to the Championship game.
In Game one of the play-offs, the Titans and the Mustangs faced off with the Titans winning by 3 runs in a very competitive game. Game 2 matched up the #2 seed Thunder and the #3 seed Panthers with the Panthers showing a much improved game from their National Runner-Up finish in the USTBA North Georgia Invitational the beginning of March, however, the Thunder brought their "A" game defeating the Panthers and moving on to the Championship Game. In Game 4, the #1 seed Longhorns competed against the #5 seed Titans to see which team moved on to the Championship. The Longhorns bats were hot, along with a great pitching and defensive performance, they were able to shut the door on the Titans and set up the Championship Game between the #1 and #2 seed teams, The Thunder and the Longhorns.
The Championship Game started out looking bleak for the Longhorns with the Thunder jumping out to a 4-0 lead through 3 innings. All of a sudden a spark ignited in the Longhorns both offensively and defensively and the Longhorns crawled their way back in the game to a 4-4 tie in the 5th inning with some clutch hitting. The game was now "up for grabs" by either of the two quality teams being all even. Both teams made some great defensive plays in the 6th inning but it was to be the Longhorns night earning the Championship Title in a hard-well-played game by both teams with a final score of 6-4.
National Division
In the National Division, the ECB Rockies, North Georgia Diamond Devils, Euharlee Wildcats and Sandy Plains Prowlers competed to see which teams would challenge for the Division Title.
Game one of the National Division was between the #1 seed Rockies and the #4 seed Diamond Devils with the Rockies pouring it on and winning by 12 runs. In game two, the #2 seed Wildcats faced the #3 seed Prowlers in a close game through 3 innings before the Prowlers broke it open winning by 5 runs and putting them in the Championship Game against the Rockies.
The National Division Championship Game included two evenly matched teams, the Rockies and the Prowlers, for what was to be an exciting Championship. The game started out in true Championship style with both teams putting their best game face on and through 6 innings it was anybody's game. Both teams battled back and forth however, in the end, the Rockies would be crowned National Champions with a 6-3 victory. My hat off to both teams for a well played Title Game.
13 & Under Division
The 10 team 13U Division matched up teams from Gainesville, Roswell, Shiloh, Kennesaw, Sawnee, Cherokee, Canton, Sandy Plains, New Hope and Rome.
American Division
After pool play, 5 teams were seeded in the American Division, Clermont A's, Sandy Plains Trojans, Kennesaw Mustangs, Roswell Hornets and the Cherokee Reds.
The Challenge for the American title started off with the #5 seed Trojans and the #4 seed A's with the Trojans winning a competitive-closer than the score indicated game, 6-3 and moving on in the elimination round. In game 2, The #1 seed Mustangs and the #5 seed Trojans faced off with the Mustangs winning by 9 and advancing to the Championship title Game. Game 3 had the #2 seed Hornets and the #3 seed Reds in what would be a challenge for both teams to advance to the Title game with the Hornets pulling out the win 4-1 and setting up the American Championship Game between the Roswell Hornets and The Kennesaw Mustangs.
The Championship Game was the game to watch. The Mustangs started out with a slim lead and keep the lead through 3 innings but, the back and forth see-saw battle was on between these two well coached teams for the remainder of the game. Both teams played extremely well and the Championship game went down to the wire with the Hornets being victorious by a score of 8-7. In my opinion, this game was a game that could have been highlighted on ESPN. What a Game!
National Division
In game 1 of the The National Division, The #4 seed Canton Grizzlies and the #5 seed North Hope Razorbacks competed in an early morning, cold and windy game. Even though it was cold and windy the Grizzlies bats were hot, putting 15 runs on the board defeating the Thunder by 10 with the Grizzlies moving on in the elimination round. In game 2, the #2 seed North Georgia Thunder and the #3 seed Shiloh Heat competed to see which team moved on to the Championship Game. Shiloh turned up the Heat on the Thunder with a shut-out, winning by 10 runs and advancing to the Title Game. In the final elimination game the Sawnee Mtn. Hawks and the Canton Grizzlies competed with the Hawks taking it to the Grizzlies, winning by 8 and setting up the Championship Game between the Heat and the Hawks.
The Heat came out Hot and defeated the Hawks with a shutout taking home the 3 feet tall National Division trophy and Title. On a special accomplishment note, the Heat allowed 0 runs and scored 23 in the National Division play-offs.
I would like to thank all the teams that joined us in Rome for the Challenge Of Champions and we look forward to seeing your team on the diamond in future events. |
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Posted - 04/01/2008 : 11:31:50
