Phenix City American ready for Southeast Regional

If you do the math, most of the players on the 11-12 Phenix City American Little League All-Star team were 2 or 3 the last time a Phenix City Little League team represented the state of Alabama in the Southeast Regional. So, who can blame them for their excitement?

"The guys are very excited and ready to go," manager Charles Haines said. "To be honest, they are very hyper and ready to get on the field."

Phenix City American will kickoff the 2015 Southeast Regional against Florida Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Warner Robins, Ga. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

"We are pumped," right fielder Logan Collins said. "We worked very hard to get to this point and we deserve this."

The Phenix City American team swept its way to the Alabama State Championship, including an 11-2 victory in the state title over their rivals, Phenix City National, on July 21 in Hunstville.

Even with the excitement level being as high as it is, Haines believes his team will be ready when it's game time.

"They are pretty good about buckling down when it gets close to game time," Haines said. "We just try to talk to them about being ready to go and reinforce the fundamentals."

The players agree with Haines.

"We worked hard and we are determined to win," Cam Carpenter said. "Once we get going, I think the adrenaline will cover up the nervousness to allow us to make plays."

Phenix City American will be one step away from the Little League World Series, which is held in Williamsport, Pa. Phenix City advanced to the World Series in 1999, winning the U.S. championship.

Haines has already discussed this opportunity with his team.

"We have been telling them to take it one game at a time since district play and not to look forward to anything else. We just have to worry about giving 100 percent and we will go as far as we can."

"Pitching is going to be the key," Haines said. "We just got to get timely hits, a bloop single here, a double there, and then get the same pitching performances we got in the state tournament."

"We just got to play our best and the chips will fall where they fall," third baseman Noah Mills said.

The Southeast Regional is a eight-team double elimination tournament featuring teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The championship game will take place on Aug. 13 at 5 p.m.

This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 7:46 PM with the headline "Phenix City American ready for Southeast Regional ."