"The shot heard 'round the world!"
Bobby Thompson's pennant winning home run against the Dodgers in 1951?
No.
It was Dalton Carriker's Little League World Series winning home run against Tokyo in 2007!
Dalton Carriker rounds the bases after his World Series Winning home run.
It was a proud moment for all Americans.
But NOBODY was as proud as his grandfather: our own classmate, Bill Carriker!
Dalton Carriker's Grandfather
Report from Associated Press
(AP) Make it three straight Little League World Series championships for the United States. Dalton Carriker homered to right in the bottom of the eighth inning as Warner Robins, Ga., beat Tokyo 3-2 in a thrilling title game on Sunday.
The 12-year-old Carriker raised his arms in celebration after hitting a 2-1 pitch from Japan's Junsho Kiuchi over the right-field stands. "USA! USA!" cried the Georgia-partisan crowd.
Columbus, Ga., won the crown last year, and Ewa Beach, Hawaii, in 2005.
The jubilant kids from Warner Robins hugged Carriker as he reached the plate. A relieved manager Mickey Lay lost his hat after joining his team in celebration following a tense game marked by excellent pitching.
Georgia reliever Kendall Scott struck out 10 and allowed one hit over five-plus innings to quiet Japan's bats after Georgia fell behind 2-0 early. Zane Conlon got the last out in the top of the eighth after Scott left the game.
That set up Carriker's game-winning homer. The slugger, hitting .769 entering Sunday's game, was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up in the eighth.
There was no doubt about his opposite-field shot, which easily cleared the hedges beyond the right-field fence.
After exchanging handshakes with players from Japan, Georgia players took hold of the championship banner, their proud parents snapping pictures from the stands.
CONGRATULATIONS Dalton!
And congratulations to you too, Bill.
Next time you want to show someone a picture of your grandson Dalton, you won't have to pull out your wallet. All you'll have to do is tell them to turn on TV.....or look at the magazines...or read the newspaper........etc., etc.
-Ed
From Jerry Gaudet:
Billie and Bill,
How great! I saw that game winning hit. Congratulations to your grandson!
Were you at the game? If not, I'm sure you were there via TV and in spirit.
From Obie Oakley:
Bill,
I watched part of that game and thought that the pitcher from Japan was just dominating. Then, I had to do something that took me away from watching the ending. Needless to say, I've seen a thousand replays.
Now, for the "Third Generation" bit. Do you remember the championship touch football intermural game at Piedmont? You and I were in Miss Love's homeroom and we were playing Coach Edelman's homeroom. It must have been during lunch for there was a crowd on the sidline watching. In fact, they were so much on the sidelines that they were actually about 15 yards onto the field.
I was calling the plays and told you to run around left end, so far in fact, that I wanted you to run behind the crowd and use them as your downfiled blockers. You executed perfectly and ran 50 yards for the touchdown. We won!
Miss Love was so proud. She commented the next day that she "..saw one of her young men take that ball and do something with it and run real hard and made some points".
I know where Dalton got his athletic abilities.
Obie
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