Harris County Little League wins GA state title. Here’s how to watch them in regional
The Harris County Little League 12-and-under all-star team won the Georgia state championship Thursday night with a 4-2 victory over the host team, Smyrna.
Harris County advanced to the eight-team double-elimination Southeast Regional tournament, Aug. 3-8, in Warner Robins, televised live on cable or streaming online by one of the ESPN networks. Their first game will be streamed on ESPN Plus against West Virginia on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.
The state tournament also is a double-elimination format, comprising Georgia’s eight district champs. Harris County, however, didn’t need the losers bracket reprieve as they went undefeated to reach the final round in dominating style.
Harris County beat Franklin County 20-1, Warner Robins 9-1 and Cartersville 11-1.
Thursday night’s game was much tighter, but Harris County never trailed. Here are highlights, courtesy of Daniel Thomas, father of team member Charlie Thomas.
Harris County jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Luke Goudie drove in Jacob Gilstrap on a fielder’s choice.
Smyrna tied the game in the third inning on a wild pitch, but that was the only blemish on starting pitcher Fuller Carver’s sparkling performance over 4 1/3 hitless innings. Relief pitcher Carson Vega held Smyrna to one run the rest of the game.
Harris County regained the lead, 3-1, in the fourth inning on RBIs by Goudie (double) and AJ Robinson (groundout). Colton Clayton scored the fourth run on a passed ball in the sixth.
Other players on the team are Cabott Clark, Hudson Harper, Malik Levy, Knox Nance and Michael Ribas. Chris Gilstrap is the head coach. Jaime Goudie is the assistant coach.
This is the second straight state title for Harris County Little League’s age-12 all-star team. The head coach of last year’s state champs was Wade Pirkle.
The winners of the regional tournaments advance to the Little League World Series, Aug. 16-27, in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Three local teams have reached that level. The first was the 1999 Phenix City team, led by head coach Tony Rasmus, which won the United States championship.
The other two came from Columbus Northern, both led by head coach Randy Morris. The 2006 team won the LLWS title, and the 2010 team finished among the top eight.
Harris County perseveres over nemesis Smyrna
The victory over Smyrna especially was sweet for this group of Harris County players and coaches after losing to Smyrna in the final round of the age-10 and age-11 state tournaments the past two years.
“To finally get over that obstacle and being able to do it on their home field just made it that much more special for all of our people,” Coach Gilstrap told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Gilstrap explained the winning difference this year.
“We’ve gotten better each year,” he said. “Our kids have worked really hard, and they’ve dedicated a lot of time into getting better as a group and individuals. They’ve really taken that next step to become better baseball players.”
Gilstrap, who played and coached at Hardaway High School, knows what it takes for a team to achieve its ultimate goal. He was the captain and starting shortstop on the Columbus State University baseball team that won the 2002 NCAA Division II national championship. He was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Asked whether this team has the talent and character to win the LLWS title, Gilstrap said, “It’s a long way away, but if they continue to compete the way that they’ve been doing the past month — even at CSU, it took a lot of lucky breaks along the way — but we’re just going to play our baseball and see what happens.”
In addition to their super skills and excellent effort, Gilstrap senses the players have developed strong bonds to help them overcome tough moments.
“It’s a lot of team chemistry, kids that are really good friends that have grown up together,” said Gilstrap, who coaches baseball and teaches weight training at Harris County Carver Middle School.. “We’re in a lot different situation than most leagues. Our kids go to school together, so they’re best friends on and off the field. I think it’s them not really caring who’s the one that makes us successful but everyone doing their job, and we all get success in the end together.”
And attaining that success with his son is another joy.
“It’s always great to be able to be on the same field with him,” he said.
