WARNER ROBINS -- The Georgia team in the Little League Southeastern Region Tournament made a habit out of pulling off comeback wins.
It saved its most dramatic rally for the championship game Friday night.
Georgia trailed by two runs entering the sixth inning as it looked for its dream trip to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series. A nightmare inning for Florida in the sixth led to Georgia scoring four runs and pulling out a 4-2 win.
Jacob Giles singled home two runs to tie the game, and then Logan Morris doubled home two more for the lead.
“We’re just so excited, and we’re so thrilled to be going to Williamsport,” Morris said. “I can’t believe we’re going to the World Series. It’s all about team. We just never quit, and we always keep fighting and coming back.”
The World Series begins Thursday. It marks the third time Warner Robins has sent a team to the World Series since 2007. Warner Robins won the championship that year.
It has another chance after an exciting sixth inning.
Logan Arnett led off the inning with a walk and moved to second when Jake Fromm was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved them both up a base. Trey Odom, however, grounded out to the catcher for the first out.
But Giles hit a lined shot to right field off the glove of the Florida right fielder for a single to score Arnett and Fromm. A wild pitch then moved Giles up to second base, and Jordan Hampton was hit by a pitch to keep the rally going.
Justin Burnette flied out to right field for the second out, but Morris came through in the clutch with a double over the right fielder’s head to send the crowd of 10,000 into a frenzy.
“I was just trying to make contact and get the ball in play,” Morris said. “What a great experience.”
Fromm was the star on the mound for Georgia, pitching five-plus innings with 10 strikeouts. He left the game after allowing a single to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Before that, he retired 12 of 13 batters.
Odom got the final three outs to secure the win and the trip to the World Series.
“My hat’s off to Jake,” Morris said. “He pitched a great game and kept us in the game.”
