WaReAgLe83 0 Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Carriker gives Georgia push over Massachusetts for semifinal berth SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Straight-faced Payton Purvis was trying to answer a question when he heard Dalton Carriker giggling to his right. "Poor Payton," the 12-year-old Carriker said, shaking his head. His eyes nearly welled up with tears from laughing after he and Purvis helped Warner Robins, Ga., beat Walpole, Mass., 8-1 on Wednesday at the Little League World Series. Georgia (2-1) clinched a berth in the U.S. semifinals and learned later Wednesday that its opponent would be Chandler, Ariz., which defeated Coon Rapids, Minn. 9-2. Purvis, who drove in two runs with a single, said the team's accomplishments haven't sunk in yet. "It will really settle in when the whole tourney is over and you realize you are one of the four best teams in the country," the 12-year-old outfielder said. That's when Carriker and teammate Micah Wells burst into laughter, burying their faces in their hands. Purvis stared at them and feigned a punch at Wells, sitting next to him. "Stop laughing," Purvis said. "You're making me laugh!" Carriker was the star with a three-run home run in the second that landed far beyond the 225-foot sign down the right-field line at Volunteer Stadium, bouncing in front of a driveway. Carriker also struck out seven in four-plus innings, finishing a game that had been suspended in the top of the second inning Tuesday night because of rain. The youngster spent a restless Tuesday night in his dorm room after manager Mickey Lay told him before their 11:30 p.m. bedtime that he would take over in relief when the game resumed. "I couldn't sleep," he said. "I was ready to throw." Walpole mounted a brief threat in the third after Patrick Hayes Jr. doubled, hustled to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a double by Matthew Bender to cut the lead to 6-1. But Carriker got the next hitter, John Adams, to ground out to end the inning. Walpole (1-2) was eliminated. "Even though we lost, I think the 13 kids fulfilled their dream by making the Little League World Series," Walpole manager Brian Oberacker said. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuburnChopper1 0 Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 This is fun to watch. My family is from and lives in Macon, GA..... I used to work off Watson Blvd. in Warner Robins for the newspapers there (Daily Sun, Robins Rev-up) Good luck to them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravad 77 Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 I watch as much of this as possible, I think it is great fun watching these kids. Go Georgia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaReAgLe83 0 Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 The run continues... Warner Robins advances to U.S. championship 16-6 win over Chandler, AZ AJC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuburnChopper1 0 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 10 Run ruling a team in the W.S. is serious business! Hope they keep at it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaReAgLe83 0 Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 WORLD CHAMPS!!! 3-2 over Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger12 46 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 That final was the best LL WS final I have ever seen. The manager of that Warner Robins team is from Alabama and actually graduate from one of the high schools here in Decatur...Austin High. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowegl 4 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 The kid that hit the walk off was on Letterman tonight. He didnt look like 12 more like 14 or 15, but he was very well spoken and handled himself very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger12 46 Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 The kid that hit the walk off was on Letterman tonight. He didnt look like 12 more like 14 or 15, but he was very well spoken and handled himself very well. Besides high school baseball, I umpire summer youth league baseball. I can tell you that these boys seem to be maturing physically a little quicker these days then when I was playing. Some of the 11-12 year old league kids look like that should be in the 13-14 year old league. A lot of the 13-14 look like they are juniors and seniors in high school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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