VALDOSTA —
The run through the Dizzy Dean World Series came to an end Sunday for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority’s 8-year-old All-Star team, the Valdosta Blazers.
Fortunately for the 10-year-old All-Stars, the Sluggers, they were able to win a pair of games and keep their World Series championship hopes alive.
The Blazers started the day with an 8-6 victory over the Alpharetta Eagles, but later fell to the Georgia state champion, East Cherokee Bulls, 9-1.
The Sluggers beat Columbus (Miss.) 6-4 before beating Mississippi state champion Statesville 14-4 in the afternoon game.
With the victories, the Sluggers play East Walker (Ala.) today at 1:30 Eastern time. If they are victorious, they will play immediately following the conclusion of that game.
The Sluggers lost to East Walker 13-9 on the first day of the tournament.
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In the Blazers’ victory over Alpharetta, Daniel Kerrigan and Nate Bowman each recorded two hits and two RBIs, while Wyatt Crosby and Mason Steele each recorded a hit and an RBI. Lamonte Lindon had a pair of hits and drove in a run.
In the loss to East Cherokee, the Blazers and Bulls were tied 1-1 in the fourth inning when a massive rain storm forced a three-hour rain delay.
Following the delay, the Bulls’ bats came alive and they struck for eight runs to win 9-1 and eliminate the Blazers.
Joel Michael Pressley drove in the only Blazer run and Daniel Kerrigan was the only player with multiple hits.
Despite the elimination, the Blazers finished as one of the top 16 teams in all of the country.
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In their victory over Columbus, the Sluggers did what they always do — they fell into a multiple run deficit.
But like they always do, the Sluggers put together a massive inning to take the lead. That inning on Sunday was the bottom of the fifth. Trailing 4-0 heading into the inning, the Sluggers put together several hits and impressive base running to take the 6-4 lead.
“It was typical Valdosta Sluggers baseball,” head coach Tim Samples said.
Cameron Carter was 2 for 3 in the game and stole home to account for one of the Sluggers’ run. Brodie Whiddon was 2 for 3 in the win.
In the win over Statesville, the Sluggers used a pair of in-the-park home runs by Westin Roberts and Kade Register along with key hitting from other contributors, like Drew Anderson who belted a two-run single and then stole home, to build their large lead.
Roberts finished the game 3 for 3, while Register was 2 for 4.
On the hill, the Dizzy Dean pitching rules forced the Sluggers to throw several pitchers. Roberts started the game off with two shutout innings. The Drew Anderson tossed two innings and allowed two runs. Andrew Clark finished the game and allowed no runs on no hits in his only inning of work.
Local Sports
Blazers eliminated; Sluggers win two
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VSU softball wins South Region, headed to nationals
For the third time in four years, and second in a row, Valdosta State’s softball team will play in the national championship tournament.
The Blazers won their third South Region championship Saturday, beating Alabama-Huntsville 8-3 in game three of the best-of-three series at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. -
VSU baseball season comes to an end
Delta State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Valdosta State 7-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the UT Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
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Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
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Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
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Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
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Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
Pop Warner Football is coming to Valdosta.
The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
If the Valdosta State baseball team is going to win the South Region Tournament, the Blazers going to have to do it from the loser’s bracket.
The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. -
Lowndes’ Willis, Breit named Region 1 Coaches of the Year
The All-Region 1-AAAAAA soccer teams were announced Wednesday and Lowndes was well represented.
Lowndes coaches Chris Willis (girls) and Jordan Breit (boys) were named the Region Coaches of the Year, after leading the Lowndes teams to region championships and going undefeated in region play. -
Vikings commit 4 errors, fall to Roswell, 5-2
The small things matter in baseball, especially in a winner-take-all game three.
On Wednesday, Lowndes’ baseball team made too many mistakes on the little things. The Vikings committed four errors that led to five Roswell runs and were eliminated in the Class AAAAAA state playoffs with a 5-2 loss to the Hornets. - More Local Sports Headlines
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