The Canes, one of 16 teams from across the Southeast competing in the tournament, won a runaway Friday against an Alabama team, but then had to play some of their best ball of the year coming from behind to overtake a Louisiana team on Saturday.
The Canes opened the tournament Friday with a whipping of the Northport Alabama Nationals, scoring 11 runs in the first inning, four in the second and 11 more in the third en route to a 26-0 run-rule victory.
Nick Hill was 3-of-3 with two RBI's, Brent Arnold was 3-of-3 with two RBI's and Zack Hacker was 2-of-3 with three RBI's. Canes pitching and defense contributed to the shutout. Lane Wilson, Hunter Siniard, Nick Hill and Mark Quattlebaum combined to keep the Nationals off the scoreboard.
In Saturday's Game Two, the Canes (Georgia State Champions) trailed early against the Louisiana State Champion (JPRD East). In the first inning, walks and errors by the Canes allowed JPRD East to grab an early 3-0 lead. Alex Adsit relieved Lane Wilson in the second inning. Adsit pitched four scoreless innings with his defense making great plays behind him. The Canes finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning after Wilson drove in Hill, who had reached base on a walk. Adsit then drove in Wilson and Zack Hacker to tie the game at 3-3.
Wyatt Barnett pitched scoreless 6th and 7th innings, sending the game into extra innings, where Will Roberson held them in check for the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, Wilson crushed a triple that drove in Quattlebaum, Josh Farmer and Hacker. Adsit followed with a double, scoring Wilson. Roberson delivered a single that brought in Adsit for the Canes' fifth run in the inning.
Hill relieved Roberson in the bottom of the ninth. After giving up two runs, Hill got the final two outs on a grounder to Roberson at third base, who fired the ball to Barnett for the game-ending double play. The Canes held on for a hard fought 8-5 win.
The Canes face the Louisiana State runner-up JPRD West today at 1 p.m. The Canes are one win away from playing in the World Series Championship game on Wednesday.