Dixie Boys World Series coverage

Technical difficulties in the Citizens Park press box have made it a tough task to reach the Internet for the opening round of the 2007 Dixie Boys Baseball World Series.

Those problems have been overcome now, but the Columbia County squad, representing the state of Georgia, is running into some technical difficulties of its own against first-round opponent Alabama.

Georgia is down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alabama's Colt Buttram lined a shot down the left field line for an RBI single in the first inning for the game's only score.

Alabama's pitcher Jacob Croft has taken care of the rest. He's still in the game, but through four innings he's struck out 10 batters and allowed only two hits.

 I overcame the Internet difficulties before the game ended, let's see if the boys from Columbia County overcome their own obstacles. 

 Top of the fifth inning: Alabama 1, Georgia 0

After Georgia's Josh McElhaney grounded out to the shortstop, Croft struck out Jake Sandlin looking. Two down in the top of the fifth.

Georgia's Kody Belcher walked then stole second. Glenn Cassedy is up to bat with a chance to tie and two outs. This might be Georgia's best opportunity to score.

Cassedy came through with a single between first and second to score Belcher. Cassedy, Georgia's pitcher, is trying to do it all by himself. He'ss given up only one run on three hits through four innings of work. Now he's put his team back in the game with an RBI single.

 Bottom of the fifth: Alabama 1, Georgia 1

Georgia starter Glenn Cassedy is out, and reliever Kody Belcher is in. Cassedy's line- one run on three hits with three strikeouts- is a good start to the tournament. Too bad he'll get a no decision in this one.

Belcher gave up a leadoff single to Preston Poe, but cathcer Stephen Crawford took care of that by throwing out Poe on an attempted steal during the next at bat. A walk, a fly out and a single put runners at second and third with two outs for Alabama, but Belcher ended the threat with some high heat to strike out Colt Buttram.

Top of the sixth: Alabama 1, Georgia 1

Two innings left and still nothing decided. The Columbia County crowd, at least 200 strong, is on the edge of their seats.

Georgia pinch hitter Justin Cofer came through with a clutch double to the gap in right-centerfield. He took third on a wild pitch just before Cade Hardin walked. An infield bunt by Michael Taylor filled the bases with one out. Zach McIntire is at the plate for Georgia. McIntire struck out swining for the second out.

Jake Sandlin, with two outs and the bases loaded, swung at the first pitch. The ball went maybe six feet. Croft raced off the mound, fielded it and flipped to catcher Tyler Dickerson for the force out at home to end the inning.

The bases were loaded with one out for Georgia, but no runs scored. Momentum- Alabama.

Bottom of the sixth: Alabama 1, Georgia 1

With only two more chances to bat, Alabama's threatening. Back to back singles by Tyler Dickerson and Justin Keef put runners at first and second. Luke McGee earned first base the hard way with a fastball to the back. Bases loaded no outs. Kody Belcher is still on the mound for Georgia.

Belcher struck out Alabama's John Shrader with a high fastball on a 2-2 count. One down.

Three pitches, three strikes and Preston Poe falls victim to Belcher's cruve. Two down, bases still juiced in a tie ball game.

A weak grounder to first base and Columbia County is out of the inning. The way they celebrated in front of their dugout made it seem the game was firmly in their grasp. Both teams had their chance to score in the sixth but neither did. We go to the final inning of regulation still tied at one apiece.

Top of the seventh: Alabama 1, Georgia 1

Belcher got his team out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in the bottom of the sixth with two strike outs and a ground ball. He led off the top of the seventh with a walk- a good start.

Belcher stole second and Glenn Cassedy placed a perfect bunt down the third base line. Both runners were safe. The go-ahead run stands 80 feet away at third base with no outs.

Brian Smith struck out on the next at bat, and Stephen's Crawford bunt attempt didn't help. Justin Cofer struck out looking, and another big potential scoring opportunity goes down the drain. That hurt.

Bottom of the seventh: Alabama 1, Georgia 1 

It's now either a Columbia County loss, or we're headed to extra innings.

Extra innings it is. Two Alabama batters got hits in the bottom of the seventh, but one was put out on a fielder's choice and the other was gunned down at third base by catcher Stephen Crawford on a steal attempt. A pop fly to third ended the inning. Belcher, who gave up the leadoff single, was pulled from the mound in favor of Michael Taylor.

Top of the eighth: Alabama 1, Georgia 1

I can hear the postgame interviews now: "It's a shame one of these teams had to lose. They're both great ball clubs."

As cliche' as it sounds, it's true. Citizens Park Athletic Supervisor Jeff Metz predicted before the first pitch that this would be a great ball game. He just made another observation that might come true.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the losing team here came back up through the losers' bracket to be in the finals," he said.

It wouldn't surprise me either.

A walk and a hit batsman, coupled with a strikeout and a stolen base, have put runners on the corners with one out for Georgia. Hunter Hamilton, who took the hit in the shoulder, just stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Lefty Jake Sandlin is at the plate.

Sandlin came through. He's now way ahead in the race for a game ball after his single to right field plated two runs and broke the 1-1 tie. You could hear the collective sigh of relief from Columbia County fans all the way out in Appling.

The floodgates have opened. Glenn Cassedy's infield single scored Sandlin, and Brian Smith just ripped a double on a called hit-and-run to score Cassedy from first. The four-run (and counting) eighth inning is enough for Alabama coach Scott Smith to pull pitcher Jacob Croft. John Shrader is in.

It looks like Croft simply ran out of gas. He pitched seven and two-thirds innings and gave up five runs on nine hits (one run on six hits before coming into the eighth). He took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and struck out a whopping 15 batters. Amazingly, he'll get a loss for the effort unless Alabama can get out of this inning and score at least three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

The greatest inning of Team Georgia's short existence finally came to an end, but not before the Columbia County boys batted around and scored four runs. Georgia coach John Sandlin has to be proud of his team as a head coach, but he's also proud as a son. Jake Sandlin started the big inning with a two-RBI single to break the tie.

Bottom of the eighth: Georgia 4, Alabama 1

It's all over. Two ground outs to second, a single and a fly out was enough to retire Alabama and give Georgia an extra inning, first-round win. The Columbia County boys will play again on Sunday at 8 p.m. against Mississippi.

Final score: Georgia 4, Alabama 1

Check back at 8 p.m. for a live blog of the Aiken vs. Texas game.