Peachtree City headed to Little League World Series

(Photo by Geoff Dale)

Southeast Park, Warner Robins, Ga. – The travel plans for Williamsport, Pennsylvania will have to wait, the team representing the state of Georgia from Peachtree City American Little League and their supporters are probably still too busy celebrating their ticket being punched to the Little League World Series, the program’s first-ever, after defeating Virginia representative Loudoun South American Little League 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon.

After two scoreless innings from both teams, Georgia-Peachtree City went ahead 3-0 following an RBI double by Jansen Kenty, infield sacrifice from Tai Peete and courtesy of a wild pitch from Chad Yates, Virginia-Loudoun starter who would go on to hit three Georgia-Peachtree City hitters during the third inning.

The damage could have been worse for Virginia-Loudoun after having the bases loaded twice during the inning. Yates ( had thrown 60 pitches, 25 away from the universal pitch limit, after three innings. In comparison Kenty was up to just 45 pitches, including six strikeouts, after three innings.

Virginia-Loudoun’s best chance at tying the game or at least closing in on Georgia came during the fourth inning with two base runners on and no outs. Kenty proceeded to strike out the next three Virginia-Loudoun hitters, his seventh, eighth and ninth strikeout victims of the contest.

Kenty pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts on 86 pitches, the last being a strike high in the zone. At one point between the fourth and fifth innings, he struck out five consecutive Virginia-Loudoun hitters, the streak broken up by a Yates single up the middle.

Virginia only managed three hits during the game, Georgia only needed four to win. Peachtree City’s road to the Little League World Series started with consecutive one-run victories over Tennessee (1-0 last Fri., Aug. 3) and Virginia, during their first meeting, (4-3 on Saturday, Aug. 4) before a dominant 8-3 performance against Alabama on Monday night.

Wednesday afternoon’s 3-0 win over Virginia gave Peachtree City the title after wins in four straight games. Previous victories came against teams from Tennessee and Alabama as well as another win over Virginia.

The unbeaten streak was similar to the state tournament, in which Peachtree City also won four straight without a loss.

In addition to winners from eight regional tournaments in the United States, this year’s Little League World Series will host teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Korea and Spain.

Peachtree City’s first game will be Friday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m. against the winner from the West Region.

The championship game is Saturday, Aug. 26, at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC-TV. All of the tournament games will be broadcast on ABC or one of the ESPN networks.

For a detailed account of the regional championship game, go to https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2018/llbws/news/georgia-earns-little-league-baseball-southeast-region-championship/.

Also reported by Monroe Roark