CHATT VALLEY CLAIMS SOUTHERN DIVISION TITLE, JUMPS UP TO #2 IN THE NATION - Phenix City, AL

After falling 7-6 in the series opener in a hostile environment at Faulkner State, the Chatt Valley Pirates pounded out 23 runs in a double header sweep to claim the series and the southern division title on Friday. The Pirates nearly pulled off another series sweep against the number two team in the ACCC south, but a trio of rare defensive mishaps allowed the Sun Chiefs to plate 5 runs, and a pair of baserunning miscues cost the Pirates a few runs of their own. The gritty boys from Chatt Valley battled back and almost took the game despite their mistakes, but a late surge wasn't quite enough. Sophomore centerfielder Chris Duncan launched his first homerun of the season in the loss and Derek Varnadore gave a solid effort for CV on the mound.

The Pirates regrouped and after being stymied for 2 innings by Faulkner Starter Jeffrey Tingle, the Pirates exploded for 6 runs in the third, 1 run in the fourth, and 4 runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 15-2 victory in the game. The win also clinched the division championship for CV. Ryan Holland led the offense by blasting a pair of homers over the center field wall for a combined 6 RBI's, but the barrage was kicked off by Nick Stevens' massive solo dinger to left center in the third inning. Jeff Shields turned in a solid effort on the mound to get the win, and Chris Graves rebounded from a rough outing last weekend to hold Faulkner in check over the final two innings of the game.

Game three was more of the same for the Pirates as they used a 5 run fourth and a two run seventh to overpower Faulkner in the rubber match of the series. Heath Peterson hammered a majestic home run deep into the wilderness beyond the left center wall to get the Pirates going and they never looked back. Questionable calls for both teams cost Faulkner and Chatt Valley some offense, but ultimately it was the Pirates who were able to overcome and take the series.

The final regular season record for CV is a team record tying 41 wins against just 6 losses for a team record .872 regular season winning percentage. In the ACCC South, the Pirates finished with a 24-3 conference tally and the first division title for Chatt Valley since the '05 DI merger. The Pirates will enter the ACCC tournement as the #1 seed form the southern division on Sunday and will play the winner of the #4 team form the northa nd the #3 team from the south.

The final regular season poll had CV in the number 2 spot behind San Jacinto-North out of Texas.