Kissimmee, FL    In the championship game of the USSSA Elite World Series 14U division, it was a contest between the East Cobb Astros of Georgia and Team Orlando from Florida.  ECB Astros got the best of the Louisiana Tigers 4-0 in their semi final game and Team Orlando outscored NVTBL Stars 9-3 in their first game of the day.
 
In the first inning the Astros struck first when their speedy lead off man, #14 Demarri Moore, was walked and then a bunt by #6 David Mayo was errantly thrown which put the runners on second and third. A ground ball to second by #4 Zac Bailey scored Moore and a pass ball scored Mayo and the Astros had an early two run lead. But the Astros were not through scoring. Team Orlando walked three more batters before Joe Marlow connected on one to add two RBIs to the Astros lead of 4-0. After loading the bases again starting pitcher Vinny Rosace was lifted for new pitcher #18 Allen Archer. Archer was able to get Team Orlando out of immediate danger and keep hope amongst the home town faithfuls. In the bottom half of the inning it was the same story as the top. But this time after the Astros’ pitcher had loaded the bases with walks, he was able to get out of the inning with out giving up a run.
 
In the third inning the Astros blew it wide open. It was a combination of more walks, defensive follies (at least three errors) and poor decisions, and several hits including three bloop singles. When it was all said and done, the score was 12-0 and the Astros were looking at a mercy-rule victory.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Astros were just three outs away from a ‘tap-out’ and yet another national championship after having already captured two in the last three years.  A determined and focused Astros defense and a wilted Orlando offense put this game in the record books as the East Cobb Astros players charged the field to celebrate the victory with a “dog pile” just like you see on national television after a MLB World Series Championship.

TravelBallSelect congratulates both teams for their resilience in making it to the championship game, the last two teams standing from a competitive field of 32. It wasn't the best game played by Team Orlando but a lot of that has to do with the team speed of the Astros, the depth of the Astros (the most players on TBS Players to Watch list and many subs who would be starters on other ranked teams) and the experienced coaching of Dave Roberts and Jeremy Luster who have been holding the championship trophy three of the last four years. That combination makes ECB Astros the 2009 Elite World Series Champion.

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