Organizations look for finishing kick at U.S. Club Nationals

Photo Credit: Nathaniel Chu

by Kyle Koso
 
Championship Day has arrived at the U.S. Club Nationals, with a couple of organizations dialing in on the coveted Club Champion trophy awaiting its destination when the dust clears Saturday.
 
The 13u and 14u title games will be broadcasted on ESPN3, with the 13u going at noon and the 14u game slated for 3 p.m. at East Cobb Park. The Five Star Tigers (FL) have gone 6-0 overall and thus secured a berth in the 13u final game; they will face a well-known program out of the Texas Metroplex, either the Dallas Patriots or the Dallas Tigers-Leonard/Nicholson. The Patriots won a tense, taut 15-12 extra-inning thriller over the Dirtbags (NC) to advance through the loser's bracket late Friday.
 
The 14u title game has another Five Star Tigers team locked into position; they will face either 6-4-3 DP Athletics or whoever emerges from early Saturday action in the loser's bracket -- Slammers-Asnicar (CO) or the Georgia Bombers.
 
Championship games for the 9u, 10u, 11u and 12u age groups will all start at 1:40 p.m. Saturday at East Cobb.
 
It's the Five Star Tigers again perched at the top of the winner's bracket in the 12u; they are 5-0 but had to survive a tough 9-8 game against the Dirtbags in the semis. The Dirtbags are still in the fight in the loser's bracket, as are the Dallas Raiders and the SBA Canes (SC).
 
The 11u championship game has the East Cobb Astros already in the mix, and they will face either the SBA Canes, Five Star Tigers and Canes in the final. The 10u title game looks very similar in makeup, with East Cobb Astros already in and Five Star Tigers, Canes and Dirtbags all looking to grab the other berth.
 
Finally, in 9u, the SBA Canes and SBA Dodgers are in the top of the bracket, with the winner early Saturday set for the final. The loser of that game has one more chance in the bottom of the bracket, as do the East Cobb Astros.