Seven days ago the Sandy Plains Cougars 7U team entered Georgia’s State Tournament with 23 of the best teams the state had to offer. Leading up to the tournament, teams set themselves up to face district and regional matchups as well as opposition from all over the state.

At Thursday’s onset of the tournament, the Cougars found themselves on the diamond, pitted against the talented District Champions, Oregon Park. By game’s end the Cougars put 25-hits on the board to take the opening win 17-9. Moving through the brackets, the Cougars racked up 37 more runs while allowing only 12 runs on their way to the semi-finals.

To this point in the tourney, the Cougars had demonstrated fielding fundamentals to perfection supported by hitting for both power and average that would make any coach awe struck. Outfielders, Kyle Carlson, William Kolker, Ben Medley, Blake Redman, and Ross Trombetti tracked balls and rifled throws to the likes of a young up and coming Ken Griffey Junior. Riley Frost and Anthony Smiga defended the left side of the infield Beltre / Jeter style, and Walker Ormsby and Scott Pitts played with Prado / Pujols skills. On the rubber Nick Eckerman played defense like 10-time gold-glover Greg Maddux while his partner behind the plate, Ryan Kennedy like Brian McCann. Collectively they showed the strengths of successive dynamic team performances.

In semi-final action, the Cougars faced the Canton Stingers. In last year’s championship game of the State Tournament the Cougars and Stingers faced each other in a game having multiple lead changes that ultimately ended in dramatic fashion when the Cougars executed a multiple relay throw from the outfield to the plate to record the final out. This year was to be the same. With parents, local spectators, and fans from all over awaiting the start of the game, enough electricity filled the air to raise the hair off arms. With all that anticipation parents paced enough to wear out maternity ward carpet. All eyes were on the umpire as he took position at the plate. In a moment he yelled, “Play Ball!” It’s briefly silent. Everyone exhales. The waiting is over and cheers erupted as parents and fans rooted for their team.

It’s the top of the 1st and Canton’s hitters step into the freshly chalked boxes with palatable confidence. Quickly they put runners on, drive in their first run and waive another runner home who, a mere feet from home plate, hears the ball pop the catcher’s mitt and upon trying to get back to 3rd gets caught in a perfectly executed run-down. Later in the inning Canton threatens with bases loaded yet the impenetrable Cougars’ defense doesn’t give. Canton is up 1-0. By the middle innings it’s clear this game will be decided on defensive supremacy. The Cougars put up their first run of the game in the third to tie it, and later add one in the fourth and fifth. That was all that was needed in the 3-1 game where between the two teams only 1-error was recorded.

In Championship play it was again the Cougars and Stingers. This time the Cougars had the bats ringing to an early start. The Cougars put up 7-runs by the end of two complete innings and never looked back. Although the Stingers hit the ball hard enough to loosen the 108 double-stitches, the Cougars defense was overwhelming. The Cougars earn the win 7-3 to become the 2010 State Champions.

This year marks MLB’s 81st Mid-Summer Classic. Keep an eye on these Cougars in the years to come. Someday you may hear their names again.

2010 State Champions: Kyle Carlson; Nick Eckerman; Riley Frost; Ryan Kennedy; William Kolker; Ben Medley; Walker Ormsby; Michael Pasquali; Scott Pitts; Blake Redman; Anthony Smiga; and, Ross Trombetti. Coaching Staff: Kyle Ormsby; Matthew Pitts; Ross Redman; and, Matthew Smiga.