Sandhills Optimist Team A defeated Sandhills Optimist Team B 10-2 to win the age 12-and-under Statewide Athletic Committee Tournament (SWAC) Sunday at Memorial Field in Southern Pines.

Optimist Baseball Commissioner Larry Solomon was pleased with the tournament and the performance of the local teams.

“To have Team A and B meet in the finals is very meaningful about our program,” the commissioner said. “The future looks bright.”

Team A, coached by Willard Formyudaval, beat Archdale 17-10 and Team B 21-11 to roll to the finals. Team B, a 4-0 winner over Sugar Creek in the first round had to win the losers’ bracket to create the all-Sandhills final. The team of 11-year-olds accomplished that by beating Thomasville 8-2 behind the pitching of Ryan Sprouse and Jordan Williams.

Needing to beat Team A twice for the championship, Team B’s Sprouse and Williams collaborated again in a 6-2 win to force the final game. Joe Wainwright hit a home run for Team A.

Tournament director, Robert Reeve of the host Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Department called the tournament “a huge success.” He was impressed by both finalists, but particularly by the only 11-year-old team in the tournament.

“They had a lot of heart. It was fun to watch them play,“ Reeve said.

Referring to the 6-2 win by Team B that forced the final game, Team A assistant coach Allan Beck said, “The 11-year-olds gave the 12-year-olds a dose of reality.”

But with Team B playing its third game of the day, Team A responded quickly scoring five times in the first inning of the 10-2 finale. Bruce Koening and Eric Shinn shared the pitching for Team A and Ryan Summerford and Joe Wainwright led the way with their bats.

Beck coached some of the 11-year-olds during the regular season and was proud of both teams. “The real winners were the Sandhills Optimist League,” Beck said.

The tournament was co-hosted by the Sandhills Optimist Club as a fundraiser for its league. Reeve praised club leaders, Solomon, David Formyudaval, who ran the concession stands and Scott Newton, president of the 12-year-old league. He was also pleased with the officiating and condition of the field.