Tribe Classic CHAMPIONS!

The Heaters Baseball Club did it!  In their first year of playing travel baseball, and in their 30th game of the season, the Heaters defeated the Colonial Heights Rebels 8u 15-14 in today's championship game to be crowned champions of the Tribe Classic at Domtar Park in Kingsport, TN.

The Heaters advanced to the single elimination Gold division tournament with two victories on Saturday.  In the opening game of pool play, the Heaters defeated the East TN Select (Kingsport, TN) 16-6.  In the second game of pool play, the Heaters faced the Tri-County Stars (Prestonsburg, KY).  The game was the Stars first game as a travel baseball team.  The Heaters defeated the Stars 16-7.  In both games, the Heaters scored early and often and never trailed.  By limiting their opponents to 13 runs scored in pool play, the club earned the number 1 seed for Sunday's pool play and with a 2-0 record, would be placed in the gold division of the tournament.

On Sunday, the Heaters faced off with the Volunteer Falcons (Chuch Hill, TN) in the semi-finals matchup.  The last time these two teams met, the seeding was the same.  The Heaters as the #1 seed lost to the Falcons (the #4 seed) 22-21 in extra innings of the semi-finals of the Northeast TN challenge to go home in 3rd place.  The Heaters did not let that happen this time.  After scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the first inning, the game wasn't in much doubt as the Heaters took the win in the semi-final matchup versus the Falcons by a score of 19-4.  After an exciting 2nd semi-finals game between the Colonial Heights Rebels 8u and the Jr. Pioneers (Jonesborough, TN) in which the Rebels won 10-9 in extra innings, the Heaters would face the Rebels in the championship game.

The Rebels struck first by scoring 4 runs in the top of the first inning.  The Heaters responded with 4 of their own to send the game to the 2nd inning, tied 4-4.  The Rebels re-took the lead by scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning only to have the Heaters match them with 2 of their own.  After both teams went down in order in the 3rd inning, the game moved on to the 4th inning with the score squared at 6-6.  The Rebels looked to have all of the momentum when the top of the 4th inning concluded with them scoring 7 runs (the maximum) to take a 13-6 lead going to the bottom of the 4th.  But the Heaters would not be denied.  The Heaters, matching the Rebels blow for blow, tacked on 7 runs in the bottom half of the 4th inning to square the game off at 13-13.  With the time limit obviously running low, the game would only have time for one more inning.

The Rebels managed a few hits early in the inning, but the Heaters dug deep and held the Rebels to a lone run in the 5th.  With time out, the Heaters would have to score at least 1 run in the bottom of the 5th for their Championship hopes to stay alive.  The Heaters strung together back to back hits to start the 5th inning before back to back outs left runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.  A crucial 2-out base hit plated a run to tie the game at 14-14 and put Heaters at 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.  After an intentional walk loaded the bases, the stage was set.  Bases loaded, 2 outs, final inning, tie game.  Either we would be heading to extra innings, or going home a winner in the 5th.  After a foul ball, the Heaters connected on a ground ball to the Rebels shortstop that rolled through his legs.  The winning run from thirdbase for the Heaters crossed home and the Heaters were 15-14 victors and Champions of the Tribe Classic!