Game #1 vs Mississippi - Win #1 - 6 to 5

Photos courtesy of Jim Hannon

of Times Daily Newspaper

The air was sizzling with the Alabama heat as the Chobee AKA Florida State Champs prepared for the opening game of the Dixie Youth World Series. Okeechobee, taking the role as visitors went to the plate first. Tyler Finney started connected with the ball and grounded to second for out number one. Justin Morgan worked the pitcher and with a full count was sent to first base with a walk. Mark Weir delivered the ball to the first baseman who executed an unassisted out and then sent the ball over to second for out number three. The Mississippi boys came up to bat , facing Noah Wilcox, and started with solid Demetrise Fairley through the right side for a single. He then stole two bases while Noah Wilcox worked on the next two batters, sending them back to the dugouts with their first strike-outs of the World Series. Mississippi's Christian Chauvin also hit through the right side for a single and an RBI. Mississippi's fifth batter, Chase Chancelor, worked Noah and ended up walking. These two runners stole bases and there were now runners on second and third. One more run scored when Chancelor stole home but the other was left on base after Noah Wilcox struck out Joel Coursey. Inning #1 = Florida 0 - Mississippi 2

Noah Wilcox stepped up to the plate and earned a full count after fouling off several pitches. He earned a trip to first with a walk. He stole second and moved on to third on a wild pitch while Will Jackson, Bradley Coleman and Thor Harden worked the pitcher hard ending in strike-outs. Mississippi started inning number 2 with Andy Beets who slammed a ball through the right side and out to right field for a single. Hunter Floyd tapped a bunt that was fielded by Justin Morgan and the throw to Timmy Farrell on first created out 1, advancing Beets to second. Wade Maloney thought he would try the other side but Mark Weir stopped the ball and made the throw for the out at first. Beets advanced to third. Demetrise Fairley hit a hard grounder that somehow evaded Tyler Finney for a single with an RBI as Beets crossed the plage. The third out came from Bradley Moore with a hit to Finney at second for an easy out at first. Inning number #2 = Florida 0 - Mississippi 3

Timmy Farrell started the third inning with his first plate appearance with a solid hit that was caught by the shortstop. Dean Radebaugh laid down a bunt that was fielded by Mississippi's third baseman for the out at first - two down. Tyler Finney laid a ball back to the pitcher who bobbled the ball a bit before making the close, somewhat controversial, play at first for out #3. Mississippi's Brandon Maddox started of our opponents with a big K and although Christian Chauvin got the bat on the ball, Tyler Finney caught it for out #2. Chase Chancelor trotted to first with a walk and stole two bases resting securely on third. However, that was where he would stay with Joel Coursey striking out. Inning #3 = Florida 0 - Mississippi 3

Inning number four was when the Florida boys started coming alive. Justin Morgain started off the inning with a walk and eventually ended up on third with pass balls. Mark Weir, unable to find his pitch, was sent back with a K. Noah Wilcox plunked a ball between right and centerfield. Will Jackson put the bat to the ball for an RBI but unfortunately Mississippi's third baseman got his glove on it as well for out #2 with a play to first. Bradley Coleman walked to first and also landed on third with two pass balls that were thrown to Thor Harden who also walked. Timmy Farrell worked the pitcher, earning a full count, but also walked With bases loaded, Dean Radebaugh poked a nice ball that landed between first and centerfield bringing in Coleman and Harden and moving Farrell on over to third. Tyler Finney laid a grounder back to the pitcher who fielded and threw to first for out #3. Florida's defense, now under the command of Tyler Finney on the mound, sent the Mississippi batters down in three. An easy play by Bradley Coleman to Farrell put Andy Beets out at first. Hunter Floyd was sent back to the dugout in three pitches with a big K. Telvin Keys, batting for Wade Maloney, hit a blooper that was fielded by catcher, Justin Morgan and the play was made at first. This got the (Chobee) Florida boys riled and ready. Inning #4 = Florida 4 - Mississippi 3

After running through the entire line-up in inning #4, Justin Morgan, again, opened inning #5. A pop-up to first created out number 1. Mark Weir earned his way to first with a single to short but was thrown out on a fielder's choice when Noah Wilcox sent the ball flying to second. Will Jackson hit a solid hit to short and created a single when Mississippi's boys opted for the out at second that was fruitless. With Wilcox on second and Jackson on first Brad Colenan sent the ball back to the pitcher who fielded and tossed to first to end Florida's at bat. Mississippi had to face Finney again with the top of the order coming to the plate. Demetrise Fairley flew out to Mark Weir at short and Bradley Moore hit back to Finney who tossed to Farrell at first for out #2. Brandon Maddox watched four balls for a walk as did Christian Chauvin. Maddox with two stolen bases and Chauvin with one moved these players in scoring position. Chase Chancelor hit a solid double straight up through the middle that barely missed Finney's glove for two RBI's. Joel Coursey thought he would continue the trend with a very hard hit out to right field but Thor Harden was all over it for out number 3. Inning #5 - Florida 4 - Mississippi 5.

Thor Harden stepped to the plate for inning number 6 and tried to rip the ball through the middle but Mississippi's second baseman was not going to let that happen. Harden was out at first. Timmy Farrell worked the pitches and walked to first. Jacalob Akins was placed on first as a speed-up runner and stole second on a pass ball. Dean Radebaugh created the second out with a hard but unproductive cut, as did Tyler Finney. Andy Beets started out Mississippi's offense with a hit up the right side. Florida's first baseman Timmy Farrell fielded the ball with pitcher Finney covering first. A quick toss from Farrell to Finney generated out #1. Hunter Floyd slammed a very hard ball directly toward Mark Weir that under most circumstances would have resulted in a single, but Weir fielded the ball on the move, rolled with the glove in the air and showed the umpire that he had indeed caught the ball. Wade Maloney, re-entering walked to first but the was stranded when Demetrise Fairley hit to Coleman on second, who threw to Farrell on first for the out. Inning #6 - Florida 4 - Mississippi 5.

Knowing it was now or never, the Florida boys went to the plate with winning on their minds. The Chobee parents had all congregated in the bleachers behind the backstops with their rally caps on and the sea of purple erupted with support that threw Mississippi players and fans for a loop. Justin Morgan took three hard cuts at the ball and hit a hard ball to second. Unfortunately, Mississippi's defense made the play for out #1. Mark Weir was hit by a pitch and send to first. Noah Wilcox hit a solid ball that was difficult for Mississippi's shortstop to handle and he reached first, advancing Weir. Will Jackson laid one out to short who opted for the play at third, sending Wilcox back to the dugout with out #2. With Weir on second and Jackson on first, Bradley Coleman stepped to the plate and boy, did he mean business. He didn't waste any time slamming the first pitch into deep right field for a double and an RBI bringing Weir across the plate. This new life caused Chobee fans to literally dance in the stands and even the most docile of parents were doing things they'd never done before. Mississippi's defense was rattled and Thor Harden was struck by a pitch. Jacalob Akins entered the game to run for Harden as a speed-up runner but was unable to advance when Timmy Farrell popped up to first. Ahead by one run, Florida defense had to stand their ground, now under the realm of Mark Weir. Mississippi's first batter, Bradley Moore managed to get the bat on the ball but Mark Weir fielded the grounder and the out was made at first. Brandon Maddox followed suit and hit a grounder to Coleman at second. Coleman to Farrell created out number two. A frenzy developed behind the backstop as the Chobee fans anxiously awaited out number three. Christian Chauvin smacked a ball through short that seemed to evade several Chobee gloves. He stole second base. Chase Chancelor earned his way to first with a walk. Tension grew as the hint of a possible loss loomed. Reaching down and grabbing that deep desire to win Team Florida took command once again. In an attempt to put down the runner on first, Weir threw to Farrell and Chancelor knew he was seriously in a pickle. With several tosses of the ball and Chancelor scrambling, losing his footing and falling to the ground, out number three was made by the Florida boys for the win. The stands erupted with "Way to Go, Florida! Way to go!" Although the boys won, it was by far not one of their stellar performances on the field or at the plate. We are anticipating a great game against Virginia, who beat Tennessee last night. Final score = Florida 6 - Mississippi 5

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