By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

It has already been a historic summer for Troup County’s recreation baseball teams, and the fun is just getting started.

Teams representing the Troup County Parks and Recreation Commission were entered in four different age divisions in Dixie Youth Baseball or Dixie Boys Baseball, and four teams won state championships to earn invitations to the Dixie World Series.

According to Kerry Whaley, the youth baseball director in Troup County, this is the first time four teams from one county in Georgia made it to the World Series, and we’re talking about an organization that’s nearly 60-years-old.

You can’t beat perfection.

“I know it hasn’t happened that one town has had four (state champions),” Whaley said. “It’s the first time in 56 years.”

Whaley said it’s a testament to the coaches and players who have given up so much of their summers to play baseball.

“They have to give up vacation time to be with these teams,” Whaley said. “It’s a lot of hard work and loyalty these coaches and players show.”

Troup’s teams haven’t just been slipping by, either, they’ve been dominating the opposition.

Of the four surviving teams, they’ve lost just one game between them, and most of the victories have been of the blowout variety.

The only loss one of the remaining Troup teams suffered came in the Dixie Boys Baseball 13-14-year-old state tournament where the Troup all-stars lost a game to Columbia County.

Troup bounced right back to beat Columbia County 12-8 in the championship game, though.

The win was particularly sweet since it came at the George F. Harris Baseball Complex in LaGrange.

“The boys refused to get down, and they just stayed after it,” Troup head coach John Alise said. “I told them to keep persevering. They’ve got a blue-collar work ethic. They wouldn’t accept anything other than to keep working.”

Next up for Troup is the Dixie Boys World Series that kicks off Saturday in Enterprise, Ala.

Troup’s other three state champs celebrated on someone else’s field.

In the 13-year-old state tournament, Troup County beat Newton County 10-4 in the championship game.

“People always talk about teams peaking at the right time, and they’re peaking right now,” Troup coach Andy Buchanan said after his team won three games, all in convincing fashion, at the state tournament. “Hopefully we can carry that on. It’ll be cool to represent Troup County in the World Series.”

Troup will try to keep the good times rolling in the World Series that kicks off Saturday in Seneca, S.C.

Troup’s other two state champs were crowned on Saturday.

In Mountain Park, Troup’s 9-10 team had no trouble with the opposition, rolling through the state tournament with ease.

Troup went unbeaten in district and state play.

In the championship game, Troup beat Lee County American 8-2, and that was actually Troup’s closest game of the tournament.

“We had a solid team because we’re well-rounded,” Troup head coach Jay Anderson said. “I knew we had a good chance because we’ve got good pitching, defense and hitting, and we’ve got good team speed.”

Troup’s 11-12 team, which also breezed through district and state play without losing, blew out Albany 12-2 in the championship game.

“We were real confident,” said Troup’s Colby Freeman. “We just came out and did what we had to do.”

The next step will be for Troup County to bring home a World Series title.

Last year’s 9-10-year-old team came close, finishing second in the World Series at the Harris Baseball Complex.

This year’s 9-10 team has many of the same players from last year’s World Series runnerup squad.

One of those players is Jake Farrar, who hit two home runs in a World Series game last year.

“If we play our same game, I expect to win it,” Farrar said. “We just have to play good baseball.”

Also last year, Troup’s 13-year-old team and 13-14 teach each won a pair of World Series games, and many of the players from those teams are back for another go-around.