August 1-6, 2008
Legendary Mitch Stadium
Ceredo-Kenova Little League

Columbus American Little League from Georgia are the champions of the 2008 Tournament of State Champions.

Introducing the state champions that participated in the
2008 Tournament of State Champions

ALABAMA: Huntsville Eastern Little League (Huntsville, Alabama)
FLORIDA: Greater Naples Little League (Naples, Florida)
GEORGIA: Columbus American Little League (Columbus, Georgia)
INDIANA: Ireland Little League (Ireland, Indiana)
KENTUCKY: Valley Sports Little League (Louisville, Kentucky)
NORTH CAROLINA: Tar Heel Little League (Greenville, North Carolina)
SOUTH CAROLINA: Irmo Little League (Irmo, South Carolina)
TENNESSEE: Donelson Little League (Hermitage, Tennessee)
VIRGINIA: SYA Little League (Centreville, Virginia)
WEST VIRGINIA: Ripley Little League (Ripley, West Virginia)

     State champions from the plains of Indiana to the coast of Florida traveled to the hills of West Virginia for the fourth annual Tournament of State Champions.  On August 1st, teams got their first look at Mitch Stadium as players gathered for some photos and early pin trading.  Events got underway on Friday as two-time World Series Champion and Gold Glove Winner Doug Flynn had a special message for tournament participants.  Teams then took part in a parade from Mitch Stadium to Dreamland Pool for some food, swimming, beach volleyball, and giveaways.

     Action on the Mitch Stadium diamond began Saturday morning with the Opening Ceremonies and a march of teams around the field.  After the tournament participants were introduced, all mothers in attendance were acknowledged for all the work that they do and were presented roses by the children.  The ceremonial "relay" first pitch featured six brothers of 2008 tournament participants who have previously played in the TOSC. 

    In the first game on Saturday, Alabama shattered the tournament's offensive record books in their 21-3 victory over Tennessee, led by a 3-3, 8 RBI's, and two home run effort and by Whitt Davis, and Devin Platts had 7 RBI's thanks to the first two home runs of his career.  Virginia's Daniel Woodruff hammered three hits in the Commonweath's 11-1 victory over Florida.  Cal Krueger's grand slam highlighted Indiana's five run second inning in their 10-4 victory over Kentucky. Georgia's Dylan Baker was 2-for-2 with a two run home-run and Parker Applewhite was 3-for-4 with 3 doubles in their 12-1 decision over North Carolina.   West Virginia's three home runs were not enough to power themselves to victory as South Carolina took the 14-9 win.

    During play on Sunday, Carson Greathouse went 3-3 with a home run and picked up the win on the mound while Cole Hill went 2-2 with 2 RBI's as Georgia remained undefeated in a 6-2 win over Kentucky.  Alabama's Luke Beasley picked up the win and Whitt Davis earned a save during Alabama's 5-2 victory over Florida.  The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Benefit Game featured West Virginia and Tennessee.  Tennessee's Jayme Gregory picked up 4 RBI's and Timmy Barton and Tyler Warmath each had three hits as Tennessee rolled in a 4-inning 15-5 victory.  For the second consecutive game, South Carolina scored in every inning, but the pitching and defense rose also rose to the occasion defeating border rival North Carolina, 10-0.  In the nightcap, Virginia hit .563 as a team and remained perfect with a 17-6 victory over Indiana.  Matthew Blaise went 4-for-5 with 4 RBI's.

     On the final day of pool play, Cal George led the charge for North Carolina going 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored, Shemar Jordan had 2 RBI's, and Gray MacKenzie pitched well in relief to lead North Carolina past Florida, 5-4.  Virginia dented the plate 13 times in the first inning as they cruised past West Virginia, 21-4.  Indiana, needing a victory to advance to the bracket round of play, got a strong pitching performance from Brandon Bayer and Craig Shepherd in relief as they got the much needed win over previously undefeated South Carolina.  Tennessee, also needing a win to advance, didn't have the same fate as Georgia's Carson Greathouse tacked on 4 RBI's to his tournament total in his team's 13-3 win.  In the final game of pool play, Alabama sent back Kentucky, 14-4, as Prestegard, Davis, and Doran had 3 RBI's each.

     Five teams advanced from pool play, including three undefeated teams, equaling the total number of teams that emerged from pool play undefeated in the first three years of the tournament combined.  South Carolina avenged their first loss of the year by defeating Indiana in four innings, 13-3, to earn a spot in the semifinals.  In an evenly matched semifinal, Virginia had to hold off a sixth inning bases-loaded threat from Alabama to hold on the 4-3 win.  Georgia scored two runs on the first two pitches of the game, and tacked on four more in the fifth en route to a 6-2 victory.

     Virginia scored three runs on the first three pitches of the 2008 TOSC Championship Game, but Georgia responded in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs.  The score stayed 3-2 until the top of the forth inning when thunder and a heavy rainstorm hit the Ceredo-Kenova area.  After an hour and twenty minute weather delay, Drew Heywood would put Georgia on top with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.  Down to their final out in the top of the sixth, Virginia answered the call as Daniel Lachance singled off the pitcher's glove with the bases loaded to bring home the tying run and give Virginia new life.  In Georgia's half of the sixth, Bryce Delevie's line-drive shot cleared the wall near the left field foul line to give Columbus American Little League the 6-5 victory and the championship pennant.

     In 2008, the tournament introduced a new mascot, Blue, a bulldog wearing the official tournament umpire uniform.  A live video stream of tournament games were made available on the tournament website.  The Mitch Stadium Production Network (MSPN) partnered with WMUL 88.1 FM, a public radio station based on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, which broadcasted the 2008 Tournament of State Champions games on local radio.  In the WV District 1 All-District game, pitching dominated as the game between the East and West ended in a 2-2 tie after 6 innings.  The St. Jude Benefit Game raised $1,723.  Memories were made that will last long after teams return home to the plains of Indiana and the coast of Florida.