The 14U Barracudas baseball team came out with hot bats en route to first place April 21-22 at the Shoot Out in the ‘Boro in Statesboro.
According to coach Chris Bell, the Barracudas put up 24 runs in two games while giving up four.
The boys overpowered Team Connection from Bulloch County in the first game. Bell said the boys scored 11 runs in two innings due to unselfish team hitting.
The Connection managed to scratch out two runs, but the game was called due to the run-rule in the fifth inning with the Barracudas winning, 12-2.
The Hinesville boys went up against the Screven Gamecocks in game two.
“Screven put their ace on the mound,” Bell said. “But after giving up seven runs in one inning, he was taken off the mound.
“The Barracudas hit the ball well and played sound defense, as they built an overwhelming 12-2 lead through four innings.”
The Gamecocks were blanked in the fifth to give the Barracudas another run-rule victory.
Screven fought back in the tournament to meet the Barracudas for the championship.
“This was a back-and-forth game with seven lead changes,” Bell said. “Both pitching staffs were up to the task on Sunday, forcing both teams to earn anything they got. With the score tied, 5-5, in the top of the seventh, we managed to push two runs across for a 7-5 lead.  In the bottom half of the inning, Screven was sat down in order to secure the win.” The coach said it was a great weekend for his team.
“We saw a number of players step up and contribute,” Bell said. “Fundamentally, we were very sound. Hitters did a good job at the plate of moving runners into scoring position as well as driving them home.”
The Barracudas will travel to Macon on May 5, Pooler on May 12 and Statesboro on May 19.
“Then it is on to state and the World Series in Tennessee,” Bell said.