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Championship down to double-elimination
Underdogs display determination, confidence
PowerWin
The mite league championship game pitting Georgia Power against Interstate Paper was one of three games at Troop Park Tuesday night. - photo by Photo by Patty Leon/Coastal Courier
As the Liberty County Recreation Department's baseball and softball championship games are being decided, Tuesday night's junior, mite and midget baseball championship bouts proved to be a show of the underdogs as every second place team had to beat their opponents twice to take the trophy.

Sign Concepts vs. VFW
First place Sign Concepts only had to defeat VFW in their first game to take the trophy but second seed VFW decided they were going to draw first blood.
VFW took a quick 2-0 lead in
the bottom of the second inning
and decided they wanted to hold
the lead. VFW added another run in the third and then took off to lead
6-0 in the final inning for a win in game one.
In game two VFW started with a 6-0 lead in the first inning. But Sign Concepts refused to be shut out of game two and scored 10 runs. However VFW added 10 of their own to take the first place trophy winning 16-10.
Georgia Power vs. Interstate Paper
Second seeded Georgia Power electrified the crowd by taking a 5-0 lead in their first at bat.
Interstate's batters were determined to slug their way back in the game and a triple brought in 3 to trail by 2.
Interstate got a quick three outs and then tied the game with a home run with a runner on base (5-5).
Georgia Power took a one-point lead to start the third inning. The Interstate players attempted a double play but only got the runner out on second. The next Georgia Power batter hit the ball right to second for the second out.  But the Power players wanted to extend their lead before closing their half of the inning and added three more runs making it 8-5.
But Interstate slugged their way back and tied the score again.
Georgia Power took control in their last 2 at bats scoring in 5 runs to hold on to win game one 13-9 over Interstate Paper.
In game two Georgia Power looked to maintain their momentum while Interstate Paper looked to bring them down.
Interstate Paper's Stephen Felton, who hit a triple in game one, took his first at bat by hitting a homer and bringing in a runner.  For a brief moment the momentum shifted to the Interstate's dugout but their 2-0 lead was changed to 1-0 when the umpire said that Felton did not step on the plate at home and called him out.
Georgia Power tied the game in the second making it 1-1. In the fourth inning Georgia Power extended their lead making it 4-1 as they approached the final inning. Despite a good attempt at scoring Interstate could not cross the plate giving the Georgia Power players a victory and the first place trophy.
"They did a fantastic job," Georgia Power coach George Rhea said. "We started the tournament in ninth place. We lost our very first game and then won seven straight to get to where they are right now. I feel great for those kids. There is nothing better than seeing them run off the field with that smile. That is why you play this game."

Heritage Bank vs. Vietnam Veterans of America
On the opposite side of Troop Park the junior baseball teams of Heritage Bank and Vietnam Veterans of America had to play a double-header with Heritage Bank taking a 15-1 and 12-1 victory in both games earning them a first place spot and the trophy.
"I was very impressed with the hustle and attentiveness that the guys displayed in both games," Heritage Bank coach Joey Brown said. "We had some outstanding plays on both sides of the ball and heads up play by some of our senior guys in Brandon Whitmore, Josh Driggers, and Levi Deese.
Brown said his team played the visitor's role but his pitchers Matthew Brown and Mitch Rogers limited the score to only one run. And his players came out hitting getting 14 runs in the first inning of game one.
"In the second game we won the toss and elected the home side and scored 10 in the first," the coach said.  Brown went the distance in that game for the win. I am very honored to have been able to coach this group of guys and to be able to associate with all of the other great coaches in our league. They are all very dedicated to the sport and do an outstanding job."






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