Warner Robins American Little League will make its third trip to the Little League Baseball World Series in the last five years after earning the Southeastern Region Championship with a come-from-behind, 4-2 victory against New Tampa Little League from Tampa, Fla., on Friday.
The Georgia State Champions scored all four runs in its last at-bat in the top of the sixth inning.
The eight-team, eight-day regional tournament was played at the Little League Southeastern Region Headquarters in Warner Robins. An estimated 10,000 people attended games at Little League Southeast Park.
New Tampa Little League starter Ethan Thomas cruised through the first five innings, helped by some stout defense, allowing only one hit and striking out 10. In the final inning, Thomas walked the lead-off batter and was replaced after reaching his pitch count limit. The second batter of the inning was hit by a pitch before a Jacob Giles line drive to right field was misplayed and two runs scored to tie the game. After another Georgia batter was hit by a pitch, Logan Morris doubled over the right fielder’s head to plate the winning runs.
Warner Robins starter Jacob Fromm matched Thomas, allowing only two unearned runs in the first inning, limiting the Florida champions to three hits and striking out 10. Fromm had to be replaced after the first batter he faced in the sixth inning singled, having reached his pitch count limit. Left-hander Trey Odom came on to replace Fromm, and retired the next three batters to earn his second save of the tournament.
Warner Robins advanced to the World Series in 2007 and again in 2009. In its first trip, Warner Robins won the World Championship defeating the Japan Champion.
Warner Robins joins teams from Mexico and Saudi Arabia as teams making return trips to the World Series.
Warner Robins, designated as the Southeast Team will play the Southwest’s Lafayette (La.) Little League, Thursday at 8 p.m. The game will be live streamed on ESPN3.com.