By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

The Troup County National 9-10 all-stars saved their most exciting game for last in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.

Luckily for Troup, the excitement led to a championship at the tournament in Laurel, Miss.

The Georgia state champs defeated Alabama 8-7 in seven innings to win the World Series after dominating much of the tournament, including a 16-3 win over Mississippi earlier Thursday to earn the championship-game match-up.

“It was a real nail-biter,” said Troup head coach Jay Anderson, who also coached the team to a runner-up finish in the same tournament last year. “It was amazing to end the way we did.”

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, brothers Ben Anderson and Matthew Anderson made a pair of incredible, clutch defensive plays to end the inning and secure the title.

Ben, on the mound since the fifth inning after relieving starter Matthew, was hit in the right shoulder when an Alabama hitter put the ball in play.

After regaining his composure, Ben quickly flipped the ball back to home plate in time to force the runner.

“It hurt when it hit my shoulder,” Ben said. “But I didn’t want to let them score because I wanted to win so bad.”

The next Alabama batter hit a grounder to shortstop, where Matthew calmly collected the ball and threw it on one knee to Willis Camp at second base, and the game was over.

Had Matthew not been perfectly in position, the ball could have easily snuck into the outfield and given Alabama the title.

“Like I’ve said all along, defense, wins the championships,” coach Anderson said. “If (Matthew) doesn’t make that play, they’d have beaten us.”

Added Matthew: “It feels really good to have made the final play in the game.”

Alabama was able to fight back from a 7-0 deficit and keep Troup scoreless in the fourth through sixth innings.

Troup took a commanding early lead with a two-run homer from Dylan Johnson in the first, a sacrifice RBI grounder from Amad Ogletree in the second, and a two-run double from Jake Farrar and a RBI double from Champ Willis in the third inning.

Alabama scored five runs in the fourth, however, and knotted the game at 7-7 with a two-run fifth inning.

After a scoreless sixth, Ken Truitt knocked in Willis with an RBI double to reclaim the lead.

That set up Troup’s seventh-inning defensive heroics.

“It was a complete team effort,” Anderson said. “Every hit, every defensive play was carried by every single kid on the team. All 12 did something that saved runs or scored runs.”

The team won six straight games in the World Series after dropping its first game on Saturday to Mississippi, which Troup defeated twice in a row prior to the championship game.

Anderson said his team improved with every game in the World Series, and that was evident after the shellacking they gave Mississippi earlier Thursday.

Farrar pitched all four innings of that game, and also had a home run in the second inning.

Farrar also hit a pair of grand slams during victories on Monday and Tuesday.

Truitt had a three-run homer in the third inning, and he finished with five RBIs.

Luke Elder had three RBIs on two hits, and Willis notched two hits and two RBIs.

Noah Hammett also had an RBI single.

The championship was quite an accomplishment for the players, several of whom played on last year’s heartbreaking No. 2 finish.

It was good to finish the job, according to Anderson.

“Our goal was just to win the state title this year,” Anderson said. “After we did that, we knew we had a shot to win the whole thing. The kids were all really excited.”

The championship qualifies Troup for the Tournament of Champions in Memphis, which showcases the victors of eight total leagues from around the nation.

That tournament begins Aug. 27.