Pony stars advance to state title game
Published 10:53 pm Friday, July 13, 2007
MOULTRIE — It’s hard to figure which is more impressive: the Colquitt County 14-and-under all-star team’s hitting since Georgia Recreation and Parks Association tournament play began or its pitching.
The Pony Leaguers are 9-0, sweeping through the sub-District tournament at the Magnolia Sports Complex and winning the District championship series in two straight games.
And after humbling Laurens County 16-1 on Friday in the state tournament in Waycross, Colquitt has won three more in a row.
In those nine games, Colquitt County pitching has allowed just seven runs.
The offense has powered to 104 runs.
In three state tournament games, Colquitt County has outscored its opposition 39-3.
And two of those victories, including Friday’s, have been mercy-rule no-hitters.
Friday’s game went just three innings. Cole Pitts went the first two on the mound, striking out four.
Hayden Kudela pitched the third, adding two more strikeouts.
Colquitt County coach Robby Pitts said Cole Pitts can pitch seven innings today and will be on the mound to try to nail down the state championship.
The abbreviated no-hitter came just two days after a similar effort by Kudela and Zac Goodno in the state tournament-opening 13-0 victory over Ware County.
Colquitt County had 16 hits in the short game on Friday, with Daylon Connell leading the way with a 3-for-3 performance.
Cole Pitts and Tyler Brown each went 2-for-3 with a home run.
Kudela and Matt Creech each had two hits. Blake Stamps, Mark Lindsey, Payne Newsome, Zac Godno and Ryan Davis each had one hit.
Cole Pitts is 8-for-11 for the tournament and also won a home run derby held in connection with the tournament.
“He’s really stepping it up at the plate,” Robby Pitts said. “He’s a gamer.”
Connell also is having an outstanding tournament and has six hits in the three games.
Colquitt County will play either Carrollton or Dublin in the championship game.