Members of the Laurinburg Optimist 8-and-under All Star team are: Front: Nick Callahan, Alec Braswell, Myles Byrd (Bat Boy), Matt Sellers, Trey Chavis, Eric Romaine. Middle Row: Michael Knight, T.C. Bodiford, Bryce Byrd, Gunner Russell, Michael Johnson, Jackson Purcell, Hayden Smith. Back Row: Coach Thomas Bodiford, Coach Eric Byrd, Coach Adam Romaine.
The Laurinburg Optimist All-Star team found themselves in that situation not once, but twice over the weekend. In the end, their persistence paid off.
The 8-and-under squad played its way through the loser's bracket to claim the District 1 championship after defeating West Chatham, 8-5, Monday night.
"The boys showed alot of integrity by coming back Saturday and Sunday and playing back to back games, knowing that they to win all of them," Laurinburg Coach Adam Romaine said. "The defense played defense all weekend."
After picking up a 21-8 win over East Chatham Friday evening, Laurinburg dropped a 16-6 contest to Northview Blue, falling into the loser's bracket.
In a pair of must-win games, Laurinburg came away with a 19-9 victory over Northview Gold before earning a 21-6 win over the Sandhills all-stars.
In the first game on Sunday, Laurinburg exacted a measure of payback by defeating Northview Blue by the score of 12-2.
With their backs against the wall, undefeated in tournament play, West Chatham, awaited the Laurinburg all-stars. The squad pulled out an 11-9 victory to force a second game with the winner advancing to the state tournament, which is being held at Optimist Park starting Thursday morning.
Laurinburg was 4-for-4 in elimination games, following the win over West Chatham.
Six players from the squad that outscored its opponents, 98-45, were named All-District MVPs, they were Nick Callahan, Michael Knight, Matt Sellers, Eric Romaine, T.C. Bodiford and Jackson Purcell.
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