WARNER ROBINS -- Getting ready for the championship game at the Little League Baseball Southeastern Region Tournament was no easy task.
To beat a crowd topping 10,000, some arrived several hours early.
Hunter Aughtmon set up his blue day shade at 4 Friday afternoon, so his mother Angela Rivera would have shade.
“We just love baseball,” Rivera said.
Fans were decked out in red for Georgia, represented by hometown favorite Warner Robins American, and blue for Florida, represented by New Tampa. Chants of “Florida” rivaled those of “Georgia” as fans cheered for their favorite team.
In a tent on the hillside, Madison Daugherty was face painting. The middle schooler from Mossy Creek said she knew about half of the 10 children who asked her to paint not only their faces in Georgia red, black and white, but also their tiny chests and backs.
Blake McCranie was perhaps the hottest person in the stands, wearing a buffalo costume. He was out promoting Buffalo’s Café in Warner Robins, which was holding the after-party celebration.
“Regardless of whether they win or lose, they are still champions,” said owner Brent Thompson.
Boys and girls from Bonaire Middle School were missing a few of their letters from “Georgia WRALL Baseball” imprinted in red on their black T-shirts.
Jessica Ridaut, who served as the letter ‘E’ and was the ringleader for the group, said she did it because she knows four of the players of the team, Logan Arnett, Jake Fromm, Trey Odom and Griffin West.
Tom Nauss, who played baby sitter to his nine grandchildren, made the championship a family affair. He hasn’t missed a game in softball and baseball regional tournaments.
“I’ve been a part of Little League since 1956,” said Nauss, who staked out a small section of real estate in the bleachers as his own.
Members of the team who played in the first championship at this two-year-old complex were also in attendance.
A few players from Columbus Northern, who represented the Southeast region last year in the Little League World Series, donned their jerseys.
“I wish I could be down there,” said Matthew Lang, who looked longingly at the field. “Those were good times.”
To contact writer Angela Woolen,
call 923-5650.
