Toccoa 11 & 12 Little League All-Stars Advance in State Tournament

The Toccoa Little League All-Stars scored seven runs in the 7th inning and then held off a furious rally by Smyrna and escaped elimination of the Little League state tournament with an 11-9 victory last night in Peachtree City.

The game was delayed an hour and 17 minutes due to bad weather.

Toccoa trailed 3-0 in the top of the 5th but scored two runs on a Ben Stowe two-RBI single. Trailing 3-2 in the final frame and with one out, Toccoa’s Ethan Westmoreland walked, and Will Keener hit a home run to give Toccoa a 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. Smyrna scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth on a two out, two strike passed ball.

The two teams headed to extra innings and the visiting team Toccoa batted around in the top of the inning. Infield singles by Bailey and Abe Stowe and an intentional walk to Carson Worley loaded the bases. Back to back walks to Ben Stowe and Mason Dyer plated two runs, Westmoreland singled home another, and Will Keener belted his second home run of the game with a three run shot over the center field fence to give Toccoa what looked like a decisive seven run lead.

In the bottom of the inning Smyrna cut the lead to four and had the tying run at the plate. A base hit scored two more, but the runner trying to go from first to third was thrown out by catcher Ben Stowe to end the game.

Carson Worley pitched well in relief for Toccoa entering the game with two outs in the bottom of the first and taking the game to the sixth inning, striking out 12. Bailey Stowe got the win on the mound for Toccoa. Keener led Toccoa at the plate going 2-3 with two home runs and 5 RBI’s. Abe Stowe also had two hits and two RBI’s.

Toccoa will now face Athens in another elimination game tonight. Athens fell to Cartersville Tuesday night 8-6. Airtime for tonight’s game is set for 5:45 P.M. with first pitch at 6 P.M. on WNEG.