Staff Report

Front left to right: Kaleb Boland, AJ Millis, Euston Farr, Colby Haralson, Jacob Caulder, Michael Fulmer, Alex Lake, Blake Mueller and Cole Boozer. Back row: Jonathan Meetze, PJ Jacobs, Ryan Stewart and Christopher “CC” Boyd. The team is managed and coached by Chris Metts, Paul Moore and Art Boozer.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_unnamed.jpgFront left to right: Kaleb Boland, AJ Millis, Euston Farr, Colby Haralson, Jacob Caulder, Michael Fulmer, Alex Lake, Blake Mueller and Cole Boozer. Back row: Jonathan Meetze, PJ Jacobs, Ryan Stewart and Christopher “CC” Boyd. The team is managed and coached by Chris Metts, Paul Moore and Art Boozer.

PROSPERITY — The Mid-Carolina Little League 2015 Intermediate All-Star Baseball team became the first team in Newberry County to be crowned state champions this past weekend.

On July 11 the Mid-Carolina Little League hosted the 2015 State 50/70 Intermediate Tournament in Little Mountain at Lindler Field. The tournament was a round robin with the championship game to be on July 12. The teams were Darlington D5 (reigning champions), Lake Wylie D8 and Mid-Carolina D3.

The tournament kicked off at 1 p.m. with the opening and pin presentation. Each player received a participation pin for the state tournament. The first game started at 2 p.m. with Darlington taking on Mid-Carolina Little League. Darlington took the win 10-6.

Lake Wylie took on Darlington for the second game at 5 p.m. with Darlington once again coming out on top, 12-9. At 8 p.m., a game between Mid-Carolina Little League and Lake Wylie leaving Mid-Carolina victorious 16-4.

The championship game July 12 between Darlington and Mid-Carolina was an intense and scoreless game until the fourth inning when Darlington scored two runs.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Mid-Carolina got several hits through the gaps and scored three runs, clinching the state title.

Chris Metts, manager of the team, said he was very proud of the kids and that they deserved the win.

“They have truly come together as a team and worked hard for this,” Metts said.

The Mid-Carolina little league team will be headed to Apopka, Fla., on July 23 to represent South Carolina in the 2015 Southeast Region Tournament. Opening ceremonies for the tournament will be held at 3 p.m. July 24 with the first pitch at 4 p.m. of the South Carolina versus North Carolina game. Other teams competing include Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia and West Virginia. The winner from this tournament will advance to Livermore, Calif., for the Little League World Series.

The team is asking for any donations that can help cover some of the expenses of their trip. To make a donation, contact anyone on the team. The intermediate team is made up of ages 11-13.