The 8U Decatur Hawks went to Franklin Tennessee for the 2005 BPA World Series not knowing what really to expect. After coming off their first championship of the year and playing some pretty good baseball the sky was the limit. The Hawks were going south to Tennessee to play in the World Series where baseball is played year round so realistically the odds seemed to be against the Hawks.

After what was already a long hot day with temperatures in the mid 90's the Hawks first game was against the Tennessee State Champion Chattanooga Chiefs. The Hawks who had been at the park all day cheering on their teammates in the home run derby and speed competition then had to sweat it out waiting for the tournament parade to run it's course. The "Play Ball" signal was finally given for the Hawks to start their game just after 5pm. The Hawks played well against the Chiefs forcing them into many defensive mistakes. It seemed neither team wanted to take control with the game being tied at 4-4 in the fourth. The 5th and 6th inning was a different story at least for one of the teams. The Chiefs pounded the ball and the Hawks couldn't make a play. The Hawk just couldn't recover to the State Champs.

Next up for the Hawks, The Cookville Storm. The Hawks played fantastic on both sides of the ball against a very good Storm team. This game was going to be a battle of the short- stops with both teams pounding the ball to the short-stop position. Cookville said they had a very good short-stop but the Hawks short isn't too bad either. Trevor Kinnaird dug in to play a solid game defensively as the Hawks went on to run rule the Storm 9-1 after 5 innings of play.

The Hawks next game against the Franklin Phoenix would go down as nothing short of a true heart breaker. The Hawks again played very well leading 10-5 going into the bottom 6th and final inning. The Phoenix came out and did what they had to do. They hit the ball. The Hawks had a couple errors but just couldn't stop the bleeding. "This is a tough loss and I know it hurts boys" Coach Scott said. The Hawks went down 11-10 in the bottom of the sixth.

The Hawks fourth and final game of pool play was the North Alabama Chargers. A fantastic defensive ball game to say the very least. The Hawks up 3-2 going into the last inning again come up just short going down 4-3. "We need to learn how to close out ball games" said coach Brewer.

Sunday was elimination day and every team was 0-0. Lose and go home is what it boiled down to. Well the Hawks had came a long way to go home early on Sunday and hopefully learned a couple lessons along the way. The Hawks had to face the TC Canes out of Florida. The Hawks just flat came out to play on Sunday. Clutch hitting and great defense gets the Hawks out and running. The Hawks run rule the Canes 9-1 in 5 innings of play. This huge win moves the Hawks to the semi finals.

Up next, a rematch game with the Cookville Storm. The Hawks defeated the Storm earlier on Saturday 9-1 but the Storm was seeking revenge. It appeared by the sluggish start of the Hawks that the Storm was going to get just that! The Storm jumped out of the box on the Hawks 4-0 but the Hawks just wouldn't give up. This is what the coaching staff has been preaching since the start of the season. Maybe being down in a few games last week at the Whiteland tourney proved to be a learning tool for the Hawks as they wouldn't give up and mounted a charge! The Hawks "storm" back to take the 11-5 lead and never looked back going on to win 11-8.

The boys were pumped, the coaches were excited and the parents were fantastically loud with many cheers throughout the game. "We going to the ship yall, we going to the ship" was being cheered on both sides of the fence! Heck even big grumpy Mike Surber was getting his groove on. "We did it" said the coaches.. THE HAWKS ARE GOING TO THE 2005 BPA WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!

The Hawks would face a great Conxion Mavericks team from South Haven Mississippi who had been thumping everyone on Sunday. They too came to play when it mattered most. It was 3:35, it was hot and it was time to get it on! The Hawks defense who had carried the team all weekend long was up for the challenge. The Mavericks get two on with one out in the first inning but the defense answers. A line shot to Trev and touch two for the double play and the Hawks are out of the inning. The Mavericks would play equally good defense as the first inning would end 0-0. More stellar defense would be played by the Hawks with a great catch by Bryan  and a nice play from Jake as he threw out a Maverick from his knees. The Mavs couldn't hold the Hawks down too long as they are able to put 2 runs on the board in the bottom of the 2nd. The Hawks lead 2-0. Inning 3 more defense on both sides as Trev nearly pulls off the incredible triple play! Yes everyone triple play!! And yes they are 8! Inning four and the Mavs would get the bats going. A few untimely errors by the Hawks and quickly the lead is gone at 4-2. The Hawks who never gave up all weekend would battle back once more in the 5th to take the lead 5-4. Three outs.. 1, 2, 3. is what the Hawks needed most in the top of the last and final inning but couldn't seem to make the plays when they needed it the most! The Mavs came up, hit the ball and hit the ball hard! The Hawks can't stop the rally and the Mavs put up five runs. The Hawks only managed to put up 1 run in the bottom of the sixth sparked by Jack's best hit of the weekend smoking the ball to left for a triple. Mavericks 9 Hawks 6. GREAT BALL GAME!!!

The entire coaching staff couldn't be any more pleased with the performance of the Hawks over the entire World Series Tournament. 2005 BPA WORLD SERIES RUNNERS UP IN THEIR FIRST YEAR! They improved over the course of the tourney right before every ones eyes. The boys learned how to suffer a tough loss and come back! They learned how to get up in a game and stay up! They learned how to get back into a game when they had to! They learned how to ignore the elements. The heat, the calls, the other fans! Most importantly, they learned how to become a team!

                                                          12 KIDS!

                                                          1 TEAM!!

                                                          1 GOAL!!!

The Hawks didn't play well but still managed a 3rd place finish in ...

Tuesday, June 7
HAWKS PLAY POORLY IN TOURNEY BUT BOUNCE BACK STRONG ON SUNDAY!

The Hawks didn't have much in the Smithville Open tourney on Saturday ...

Thursday, May 19
HAWKS ARE OFF TO PROMISING START

With a 7-3 record to start ...

Monday, May 23
HAWKS STING THE SCORPIONS IN DOUBLE HEADER

The Hawks double dip the Jennings County Scorpions in a Saturday double header. ...

Sunday, May 1
THE HAWKS TAKE 2ND PLACE IN THE DECATUR EARLY BIRD TOURNEY

The Hawks get off to a promising start this season @ 5-1. With ...

Tuesday, August 2
DECATUR HAWKS YEAR END PARTY!!!