State Champions
Union County Mites win the big one
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Photo by Rachel Allison The team embraces the Championship trophy following the deciding game.

The Union County Mite All-Stars (ages 9- 10) won the State Championship for Georgia Recreation and Park Association Mite Baseball. Championship Game: Union 10 - Trion 8

Union lost to Trion in the opening game but defeated in the semi-final game, setting up a final match between the two teams. Union made a statement right away, scoring three runs in the first inning. Union scored two more in the fifth, raising the lead to 5-0, but Trion answered back with four runs in the third inning, cutting the lead to 5-4.

Union responded with five more runs in the fifth inning, doubling their total to 10, but Trion followed the lead, scoring four more of their own to claw back within two runs at 10-8. Fortunately for Union, strong pitching from Lance Rich and Sara Candiano allowed them to hang on for the win.

Game 1: Union 3 - Trion 7

Union County's only loss in the tournament came at the hands of, Trion, the team that they went on to defeat in backto back games. Trion scored three runs in the first inning, but Union responded with three in the second inning. Oliver Allison came up with an RBI double and defensive miscues helped Union put two more across the plate. Trion scored four runs in the fifth inning to win the game.

Game 2: Union 14 - Commerce 5

This was never really a contest as Union jumped out to a big lead early by putting four men across the plate in the first inning and two more in the second. They added another pair in the fourth and finished off the game by scoring six runs in the sixth inning.

Game 3: Union 10 - Wilcox 5

Hunter Hughes opened the game with a triple and scored on a Tyler Odom triple. Odom scored on a triple by Jake Sisum as Union posted two quick runs. Chase Barnett hit a solo homerun to left field in the second inning to give Union a 3-0 lead, but Wilcox responded with 5 runs to take the lead. Union reclaimed the lead with four runs in the fourth. Union added three more insurance runs in the fifth.

Game 4: Union 11 - Bowden 2

Union broke this game open with an nine-run fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam homerun by Chase Barnett.

Semi-final Game (5): Union 5 - Trion 3

In a rematch with the team that defeated them in the opening game, Union County again squared off against Trion. For a moment it looked as if Trion might send Union home as they posted a 1-0 lead.

But Union took the lead with three runs in the third inning. Trion narrowed the gap to 3-2 before Oliver Allison smacked a 2-run homerun that would end up being the difference in the game. Trion scratched out one more run before the game was over, but Union held on for the victory, setting up the victory in the championship game.

Hunter Hughes pitched all six innings, limiting Trion to only three runs.

Special thanks to Darryl Allison for providing statistics.
2007 Roster:
Oliver Allison
Lake Amick
Chase Barnett
Sara Candiano
Josh Daniel
Parker Daniel
Kyle Edwards
Hunter Hughes
Joseph Mancuso
Tyler Odom
Lance Rich
Jake Sisum