What A Week!!!!!!!!!!

Who knew when I reserved our hotel room last December that team Georgia would represent the Southeast at the Little League World Series? Let alone come home champs the second year in a row?!

We didn't score tickets for the final game, Little League doesn't charge for admission, but when it comes down to the last games, you do have to have a ticket. Tickets for the final game on Sunday are by lottery. You write a letter to the Little League organization, and request as many as you need, and you wait. We received our rejection letter in June, we would not be sitting in the grandstands, we'd have to watch from the hillside. But, hey, we'd be there, that's all that matters.

Then the games started. We'd position ourselves right amongst the parents. That's the rowdy section, where all the excitement is! We got to know a lot of the parents, and had a good time sitting with them. The idea of sitting out on the hill on Sunday was not something we wanted to face up to! So, John becomes chummy with Nick Martens parents. We stand around waiting impatiently just hours before the final game on Sunday. But, we scored those prized tickets to seat us in the stands! No muddy, sunny, hot hillside for us. We didn't get to sit close to the parents, but we were in the stands, and that's all that matters.

Georgia was considered the underdogs from the very start. We were not anything to loose sleep over. EVERYONE knew that it would be Texas battling Japan for the world title. But, don't count your chickens before the eggs are hatched! And don't underestimate any little league team! It ain't over, till it's over. And our little underdogs played their hearts out! The final game went into 8 innings! Regulation little league games only run 6. We figured Japan would kill us quickly, and under little league mercy rules, they would call the game with 10 runs. But, no, it was a tied game from the second inning. And scoreless after the second inning. i thought I was going to throw up, I was sooo nervous! But, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Georgia's Dalton Carriker hit a homerun to right field, advancing us 3-2 over Japan, and taking home the Little League World Series Title!

The stands were rocking with applause and screaming, shell shocked fans. Some Japan players were laying on the ground in tears. My heart went out to them, but I was so happy for our Georgia boys! On the victory lap around the field, they got team Japan to join them in their celebration.

I think John enjoyed his birthday present. I know I did!