Buckhead 8U Braves, GA Cal Ripken State Champions!  Front row: Davis Wilson, Jack Tracy, Brooks Rackley, Nicholas Broadway, Clark Klitenic, John Flor, Charlie Ham Second row: Harris Goodwin, John Ju, Lance Beck, Badger Warner, Wilson Glasgow Back row: Coaches John Ham, Chris Flor, David Wilson, Wil Glasgow Regional Tournament Summary The Buckhead Braves 8 year olds ended their summer season playing their best baseball. After winning the State Championship over Ocee Park, the Braves traveled to Ocala, Florida for the Southeast Regionals. The team opened with a thrilling 8-7 win over the South Florida state champions, Ovieda, as they pushed across 2 big runs in the bottom of the fifth and held on. The Braves then played a tight affair vs. the Western Carolina runner up from Charlotte, trailing 5-3 entering the sixth inning. With two outs and down to their last strike, the never say die 8s rallied for four runs to win 7-5. On Friday, Buckhead played the host Ocala team, who entered the game with a 32-1 summer record. After falling behind 8-1 and then 12-4, the Braves hammered their way back to 12-8, but came up short as Ocala held them off 13-8. Not to be denied, the Braves played South Carolina in their final pool play game and won 14-0 in a mercy rule victory.
With a 3-1 pool record, the Braves advanced to bracket play. Their draw was West Raleigh, a team that was 25-0 this summer with 23 of those wins coming by mercy rule, including 4 blowouts in Southeast Regionals pool play. But they hadn't yet faced the Buckhead squad. With most spectators and other teams expecting another West Raleigh rout, the Braves battled them play for play and entered the fifth inning in a 1-1 tie. A couple of miscues in the bottom of the fifth allowed West Raleigh to push across a couple runs and they held on to win 3-1. As most of their coaches and spectators said, they were not used to being played like this. In fact, West Raleigh went on to win the SE Regional Championship handily - although their semifinal game vs. Buckhead was one they knew could have easily gone to the Atlanta boys.
With that tough but impressive loss, the Braves ended their season. Thanks go to all the coaches - John Ham, Wil Glasgow, Chris Flor, David Wilson - and the team mom, Shea Warner, as well as all the parents and families. But most of all, Buckhead Baseball is proud of these 8 year old boys who played so well and so hard, and gave us all a summer of exciting baseball.
Go Buckhead!
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