2008 WWBA National Championships

Perfect Game Staff

The month of July means World Wood Bat Association National Championships in Marietta, Georgia. The WWBA 18U (2008 Grads) National Championship kicks off the month starting July 1 and running through July 7.

The WWBA 18U has set an all time high with 186 teams competing for the championship. Each team is guaranteed 6 games (weather permitting) during the week. A total of 28 first round draft choices combined played in the 2006 and 2007 WWBA 18U National Championships and the level of overall play each year is incredible.

You can follow all the action, including up to date score, game highlights and periodic scouting notebooks, from the East Cobb Complex and up to 20 other Atlanta area fields on www.worldwoodbat.com.

Following right on the heels of the 18U National Championship will be the 17U (2009 Grads) National Championships (July 8-14). 17U WWBA has become the largest single team event in the history of amateur baseball with 192 teams, the 16U (2010 Grads) National Championships (July 15-20) and the 15U (2011 Grads) National Championships (July 21-26). All will also be held in Marietta/East Cobb and be covered up to the moment on www.worldwoodbat.com.

The WWBA 14U (2012 Grads) National Championships were held June 20-24 in Marietta and the East Cobb Astros defeated the Virginia Wildcats for the championship. Chase Scott (East Cobb Astros) and Hunter Higgerson (Virginia Wildcats) shared the Most Valuable Player honors, while East Cobb Astros RHP Jared Walsh won the Most Valuable Pitcher award.

Highlights from the 2007 World Wood Bat Association National Championships include:

2007 WWBA 18U

Chet Lemon’s Juice defeated the South Charlotte Panthers 4-3 in a hard fought championship game between two relatively low seeded (Panthers 14th, Juice 12th) teams that mowed through the higher seeds earlier in the playoffs.

Chet Lemon’s 3B/RHP Cory Thomas was named the Most Valuable Player for his work on both sides of the ball. Thomas had a complete game, 11 K shutout over the San Diego Show, an eventual playoff team, in pool play and went 8-18 at the plate with a team high 11 Rbi’s, including a towering home run in the championship game.

Thomas’s teammate, LHP Daley Cox, was named the Most Valuable Pitcher. Cox threw two complete game wins during pool play, then threw two innings to pick up the save in the championship game.

2007 WWBA 17U

The East Cobb Braves defeated the Richmond Braves to win the 2007 17U championship, denying the Richmond team of a “repeat” after virtually the same group of players won the 2005 16U National Championship.

East Cobb dominated in the playoffs with their usual outstanding pitching, as they allowed just three runs in 26 playoff innings. RHP Zeke Spruill was named the championship Most Valuable Pitcher, going 2-0, 0.00 in 11 innings, including a complete game win over a very strong All American Prospects team in the semifinals.

East Cobb OF Brennan May was named the Most Valuable Player. His five home runs, including two leading off games, is believed to have tied the all-time WWBA National Championship record held by Indiana Yankees 3B Eric Campbell (now in the Atlanta Braves system). May went 13-32 overall with 10 extra base hits and 12 Rbi’s out of his leadoff spot.

2007 WWBA 16U

The Knoxville Yard defeated the Rockdale Rhino’s in a rain filled week of baseball to win the 2007 16U National Championship.

Rockdale’s Buck Farmer was named Most Valuable Player. He threw a complete game 2-hit shutout against Palm Beach PAL in the playoff quarterfinals and hit over .400 for the week with 5 doubles and 7 Rbi’s. RHP Taylor Gouffon of Knoxville was the Most Valuable Pitcher, going 2-0 and throwing a no-hitter against the East Cobb Titans in the quarterfinals.

2007 WWBA 15U

The East Cobb Astros defeated NorCal 15U Black in one of the most thrilling championship games in WWBA history, prevailing in 10 innings, including three “extra” innings using the WWBA bases loaded tie breaker rules.

East Cobb’s Zane Evans was named Most Valuable Player after hitting .350 on the week with 13 Rbi’s and 8 runs scored, along with picking up a win on the mound during pool play. NorCal’s RHP Scott Griggs was named the Most Valuable Pitcher, striking out 11 hitters in 9 innings while showing a fastball up to 91 mph.

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