TIFTON, Ga. — Chip Chip Goose emerged as the inaugural champions of the Georgia Jam Spikeball tournament held at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Saturday.

Chip Chip Goose, based out of Valdosta, defeated the local Lefties on Loan for the crown. The Lefties, which included tournament organizer Harding Brumby, had earlier lost to Chip Chip Goose, but battled back through double elimination bracket to reach the finals.

Eight teams participated in the initial tournament, which was played on ABAC’s intramural field. Brumby said that he was pleased with the turnout, especially considering this was the first one to be held in Tifton. “I was happy to get those teams,” he said. “I thought it was a successful tournament.”

Most of the players were from Georgia, but Brumby said that they came from Alabama and Florida as well.

Spikeological Warfare and Josti Bros. were both Florida teams, the latter hailing from Winter Haven. Valdosta sent over Chip Chip Goose and a team called No Daddy No. Press A to Spike were a Savannah squad and north Georgia contributed two, Pablo Sanchez’ Secret Weapon (West Point) and 28th Amendment (Athens area).

He said Valdosta had an active Spikeball scene. The sport is “starting become more known,” he said, with colleges and high schools beginning to become active.

As teams arrived, they warmed up on the field before Brumby called them over to explain the rules. The morning was dedicated to pool play. Records from that would be compiled and teams were seeded for the afternoon’s double elimination tournament.

“It went pretty well,” he said. “Everyone got in competitive matches.”

The teams did pretty well in the heat — competitors even had enough energy to dive over the net on returns — but Brumby said the humidity did wear his squad down in the end. “We were exhausted,” he said, adding that Chip Chip Goose deserved their victory.

The event was well sponsored, with Barberitos, Firehouse Subs, Spearman Agency and Bell Plantation all helping out. Brumby would like to schedule another tournament in Tifton. He said the next major event in the state was scheduled in Peachtree City in September.