By John Spargo
sports@thenewsobserver.com
The Fannin County Recreation 8U All Star team traveled to Claxton, Georgia, June 23 through 24 to participate in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association Class C State Tournament.
The Rebels brought their bats with them, scoring a total of 57 runs in three games.
The Rebels dusted off Wilcox County for the second time in two days by a score of 16-11 to win the tournament and bring the state championship to Blue Ridge.
In the first game of the tournament, Fannin faced Jasper County. The Rebels offense exploded as they won by a score of 17-2. That win led to a showdown against Wilcox County for the first match up between the two teams.
The Rebels flexed their muscles early and often as they crushed Wilcox 24-10 to advance to the championship game the following day.
With Fannin earning a berth in the title game, they waited on the winner to come up from the losers bracket to see who they would play. Wilcox emerged and had payback on their minds.
The Rebels denied that payback as they jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning. Wilcox responded and tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the second.
Fannin added two more runs in the third inning, and soon after, blew the game open in the top of the fourth by adding six more runs to extend their lead to 12-6.
The Rebels padded their lead by adding four more runs in the top of the fifth inning to build their advantage to 16-6.
Wilcox County answered in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs and then added two more in the bottom of the sixth, but the Rebels’ steel curtain defense recorded the third out for a convincing 16-11 win to claim the Class C state title.
Coltlee Jackson led the way for Fannin, going 4-4, with an RBI, and scoring three runs. Jackson also had five outs on defense.
Aiden Owensby went 3-4, with an RBI, and scored three runs, while Elijah Crowder went 3-4, leading the team with four RBIs and two runs.
Cason Dyer went 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs, including a two-RBI double.
Zeke Payne went 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs.
Payne also had a double play in the second inning. He caught a line-drive and threw the runner out at first, when that runner came off the bag.
Trevor Barnes went 2-4, with two triples, two RBI’s and two runs, while Brensen Campbell went 2-4 with two RBIs.
Wyatt Kennedy went 2-3, getting a RBI. Kennedy also assisted in multiple outs at second base.
Zander Sparks went 1-3 and had two defensive put outs as a pitcher.
Also for Fannin County, Brock Holloway went 3-3 scoring a run.
The 8U Boys team members are Cason Dyer, Elijah Crowder, Zeke Payne, Coltlee Jackson, Tucker Davenport, Aiden Owensby, Brensen Campbell, Wyatt Kennedy, Brock Holloway, Zander Sparks and Trevor Barnes. Coaches for the 8U Boys are Head Coach Julie Dyer, and assistant coaches Tasha Anderson, Andy Dyer, Jeremy Payne, and T.J. Ross.
Dyer said of the coaches and players, “Tasha is an amazing coach with lots of skills and can really explain things well to the kids. I am very thankful Jeremy Payne was our pitcher. The three of us worked very well together for one goal. To help improve the baseball skills of any kid we coached.”
In addition, Julie’s husband, Andy, filled in anywhere there was a need.
“I asked T.J. Ross and Caleb Sparks to join our coaching staff during the all star season. I am very thankful for all five of my coaches and could not have had the success we had without them.
“These boys have been amazing to coach, and they will forever have a special place in my heart,” Dyer said.
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The Fannin County 8U All-Star baseball team recently won the Georgia Recreaction and Parks Class-C State Tournament June 23-24. The Rebels won the tournament by besting Wilcox County twice. The 8U All-Star baseball team is shown, from left, front, Aiden Owensby, Coltlee Jackson, Wyatt Kennedy and Zander Sparks; middle row, Brock Holloway, Brensen Campbell,Trevor Barnes, Zeke Payne, Elijah Crowder and Cason Dyer; and back, Assistant Coach TJ Ross, Assistant Coach Andy Dyer, Head Coach Julie Dyer, Assistant C