Stars shine on diamond

The Columbia County Stars 12-and-undertravel baseball team finished their fall tournament schedule by winning two of the past three tournaments and placing second in the Tournament of Champions in Atlanta.

First, they went to Elberton and beat Sonny's Mustangs 11-1, the Carolina Bullets 11-5 and the White County Warriors 13-11 before winning the championship against Sonny's 12-2.

The next weekend they went to Clinton, S.C., and beat the Carolina Stampede 11-2, Travelers Rest 13-2 and the Columbia Lynx 16-3 before going on to the championship game, where they beat the Clinton Reds 6-5.

Finally, they went to Atlanta, where they beat the No. 1 team in Georgia, the Macon Red Stixx, 5-1, the Atlanta Mudcats 9-6; and the Stockbridge Braves 4-2, before going to the single elimination, where they beat the Macon Red Stixx again 8-4 and the Warner Robins Stars 6-1 before losing in the championship game to a team from Tallahassee, Fla., 6-4.

//

The Stars had a tremendous fall record, going 22-3 in tournament play while winning two tournaments and placing second twice and third once. They obtained the No. 1 power ranking in Georgia inthe United States Specialty Sports Association 12-and-under division.

They have competed in USSSA qualifying tournaments in Macon, Rock Hill, S.C., and McDonough, Ga., and two invitational tournaments in Clinton and Elberton this fall. The Stars have qualified for three World Series births, one in California, another in Hutchinson, Kan., and another in Clearwater, Fla. They have compiled this record by outscoring the opponents nearly 10 runs to 3.5 per game.

The Stars travel throughout Georgia, South Carolina and Florida to compete in tournaments. They will resume tournament play in the spring of 2003 and will continue through the summer. World Series play will start in mid-July.

The team is made up of young men 12 and under from the Columbia County area. They are coached by Billy Gamblin.