Georgia Beats Virginia in Semifinals, Advances to Southeast Region Championship Game

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia’s boys picked up a big 5-1 win over Virginia on Wednesday night in front of a national audience on ESPN2.

Most of the fans at the packed out park were rooting for the hometown team, but all that extra hype didn’t affect Georgia.

“The coaches say we’re not allowed to get that in our head,” says Kody Winner, who went 3-for-4 at the plate. “We’re just trying to focus on the game instead of thinking ESPN, Webgems, you know.  We’re just playing the game.”

“We just talked about, you know, let’s use that crowd to our advantage,” says Georgia manager Martin Pinckney.  “Let’s feed off the crowd in a positive way instead of a negative way.”

The players took their coaches’ advice on Wednesday.

In the bottom of the first inning, Georgia pitcher Tee Adams struck out Kyle Novak for the first of his four strikeouts on the night.  He would be the winning pitcher of the game.

In the top of the second, Virgina’s Jason Volpicelli’s pitch got by home plate, allowing the first of Georgia’s runs to get on the board.

Bottom of the third: Virginia’s Iain Muir singled. Georgia got the force out at second and tried for the double play, but no dice.

Bottom of the fifth: Virginia’s Daniel Hosley almost got one out of the park, but he came up just short.  That’s OK though, he had a double, and Virginia was in business.

Bottom of the sixth with the crowd on its feet:  Virginia tried to rally, but a successful play by Georgia’s defense finished it off and sent the Peach State boys to the region championship game.

“Hats off to a great Virginia team,” says Pinckney.  “We knew they were going to be good.  We saw them–very fundamentally sound.  I don’t think they made any errors that I know of.  I don’t remember any.  We hit a couple hard balls they made plays on.  They hit some pretty good shots we made some good defensive plays on.  They pitched well, so it was a hard fought win.”

Next up for Georgia is the Southeastern Region Championship game against Tennessee on Friday night at 7 at Little League Southeast Park.

The winner of that game advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.