By Robert Griffin

Sports Writer

The Troup all-stars survived their toughest test of the state tournament, and now they’re just one win away from a championship.

After beating its first four opponents by a combined score of 57-5, Troup had its hands full with Columbia County on Thursday, but in the end, the result was the same.

With Caleb Buchanan and Jake Norton each hitting clutch home runs C.J. Tatum going four solid innings, and Buchanan getting a strikeout with the bases loaded to end it, Troup won 9-7 to advance to today’s championship game at 6 p.m. against Newton County in Covington.

If Troup wins that game, it’s over.

If Newton County wins, another game will follow.

On Wednesday, Troup blasted Newton County 13-3.

“It was a very nerve-racking game,” coach Andy Buchanan said of Thursday’s game. “They are a good team. Our pitchers lost it there for a while, but we were able to settle down and get the win.”

After two innings of scoreless baseball, the team received a jolt of energy when Norton launched a three-run home run to center field to give Troup the lead.

“That got us on the map,” Buchanan said. “That kind of gave us a little bit of a boost of energy and woke us up in the game.”

Columbia scored one run in the bottom of the third, but that was all it could manage against Tatum, and Troup was up 3-1 through four innings.

Tatum gave up four hits and struck out five.

“C.J. did an outstanding job for us,” Buchanan said. “He pitched four very strong innings for us and looked really good out there on the mound.”

Troup padded its lead in the top of the fifth.

Buchanan blasted a solo home run to center field.

Dustin Vaught followed with a double, and was later brought home by a Dre Leonard single.

After two more runs scored on walks, Troup was up 7-1.

Columbia County hung tough, though.

It scored six runs over the final three innings, including three runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Troup scored its final two runs in the sixth, with Jaylen Colton and John Patterson each delivering RBI singles.

In the bottom of the seventh, Buchanan came in with the bases loaded and the tying run on second, and he notched a strikeout to end the suspense.

“We had the bases loaded and they had already scored two runs,” Buchanan said.” I told the guys if they had one hit they would have tied it. It was a mano-to-mano moment, and Caleb mowed him down.”

Tatum picked up the win for Troup, with Buchanan getting the save.

Drew Elliston, Matt Morton, and Chas Pardue also put in time on the mound for Troup.

Columbia only had five hits, but it took advantage of 11 Troup walks.

“They really didn’t hit the ball on us at all and we really didn’t have any errors,” Buchanan said. “We let them climb back into the game by walking people. The pitchers lost it there for a little while. We couldn’t find anyone to throw strikes.”

Vaught, Norton and Morton each had two hits to lead Troup, which had nine hits.