13U North Georgia Snipers win Grand Slam title

The 13U North Georgia Snipers won the 2016 Grand Slam World Series in Panama City, FL June 21-25.

The Snipers, consisting of several local middle school players, went 6-0 on their way to the tournament title.

Local players include: Taylor Elrod (South Central MS); Preston Godfrey and Carter Heath (Woodland MS); Blaine Ingram, Josh Jacobs, Hunter Lee, Kyle Miller and Nic Wallin (Cass MS); and Jayden Smith (Adairsville MS).

The Snipers beat the Kennesaw Generals, 4-3, and the Northshore Pelicans (LA), 9-8, in pool play to earn a No. 3 seed in double-elimination bracket play.

In the championship bracket, the Snipers beat the Winward Braves (Alpharetta), 4-3, the Morgan City Red Sox (LA), 10-0, and the Ohio Surge, 10-3.

The Snipers then defeated the Ohio Surge 10-2 in a championship game rematch after the Surge worked back to the finals through the losers’ bracket.

Heath led the Snipers’ offense going 10-for-16 in the event. Godfrey and Ingram followed with nine hits each. Lee totaled eight hits. Miller and Ashworth Middle School’s Sam Melton had six hits each, while Elrod and Smith finished with five and two hits, respectively.

Smith also tossed a pair of shutout innings on the mound in the championship game. In the six tournament victories, Godfrey pitched eight innings and allowed two runs with 16 strikeouts, three saves and a win.

Ingram threw 10 innings, allowed three runs with 12 strikeouts and three wins and picked up the title game win with four innings of work. Wallin pitched 10 innings, allowed three runs and had 15 strikeouts with two wins and Smith pitched a pair of shutout frames.