VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority’s 10-year-old All-Star team, the Valdosta Sluggers, advanced to the final day of the 10-U State All-Star baseball tournament Saturday behind a pair of wins over Union County and Acworth at Freedom Park in Valdosta.

The Sluggers started the morning with a thrilling 12-11, come-from-behind, victory over Union County and finished the day with a 6-3 victory over Acworth to advance to championship Sunday.

“They were all special today,” Sluggers head coach Tim Samples said of his players. “The only thing I can say is that they were all special.”

With the win on Saturday morning, the Sluggers earned a spot in the Dizzy Dean World Series in Southaven, Miss., which will be held later this month.

Today, Valdosta will face Buckhead, who beat the Sluggers on the first day of the state tournament, at 10 a.m. in an elimination game. The winner will face undefeated Sandy Springs in the state championship game.

Regardlessm of today’s outcome, the Sluggers have qualified for the World Series and will get the opportunity to compete for the championship in Southaven.

But first, the Sluggers will look to win the state championship with a pair of wins today.

As for Saturday, the Sluggers’ win over Union County was as exciting as they come;  they scored five runs in the top of the final inning to take a one-run lead, 12-11. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sluggers held Union County to no runs to advance to the afternoon game versus Acworth.

In fact, pitcher Westin Roberts struck out the side in the bottom of  the sixth inning to close out the game. Roberts pitched the final four innings of the game for the Sluggers.

Trailing 7-5 heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Sluggers fell into a five-run deficit after Union County added three more runs, largely because of mental mistakes by the Sluggers.

In the inning, Union County loaded the bases with two outs — giving the Sluggers a force out at any base. When a ground ball was hit at third baseman Brodie Whiddon, the easy force out would have been at third base. Instead, Whiddon threw home to catcher Andrew Clark. The throw was short and Clark couldn’t handle it as a Union County runner slid home. All the base runners were safe and the inning was extended.

The following at-bat, Union County used a single to right field, which was nearly caught by Valdosta right fielder Jake Hamlin, who went diving to his right. The hit scored another run for Union County, making the score 10-5. The inning came to an end on a tag-out at home plate, which was the result of a relay from the outfield, started by Hamlin.

Despite the big inning for Union County, the Sluggers never gave up. The two teams swapped runs in the fifth inning and then Valdosta scored its five runs, three of which came with two outs, in the top of the sixth inning to grab the lead and then the win.

The Sluggers followed up their exciting win over Union County with a 6-3 victory over Acworth. The win was classified as a “total team-effort” by Samples, whose team never trailed in the game.

“The second game was just a great team-effort win,” Samples reiterated. “Everyone pitched in. They were lights out.”

In the win over Acworth, second baseman Wade Holton turned an unassisted double play. The impressive defensive play added to what has been a stout defensive performance this tournament for the young infielder.

“His glove has been so impressive this tournament,” Samples said. “He has been lights out for us.”

Andrew Clark has turned into a staple behind the plate for the Sluggers. Clark caught both games on Friday and Saturday, despite temperatures peaking in the upper 90’s.

“Not one time did he say ‘I need a break’,” Samples said of his young catcher. “I’d look at him and ask “Do you have another one in you?’ And he would say “I have as much as you need, Coach.’”

Drew Anderson was 3 for 3 with a pair of walks in the game 1 win over Union County, while Drew Harrell was 3 for 5. Jake Hamlin was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Kaid Register was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs in the game two victory.

On the day, every Slugger batter recorded at least one hit.

With a spot earned in the World Series, the Sluggers are back taking donations to help fund the team’s trip to Southaven, Miss. Donations are being taken at Colony Bank on North Valdosta Road. Checks may be made out to ‘The Valdosta Sluggers’ and made to the attention of Melody Samples, the wife of Tim Samples.

Those interested in making donations may also call Tim Samples at 229-630-0178.