The Richmond Hill Chain Wildcats started their state championship march bywinning in Vidalia in the beginning of June.
The Wildcats came from five runs behind to defeat the Middle Georgia Mavericks 8-7. Orlando Carter got the win and home runs were hit by Luke Whetstone and Douglas Wood. The game was in doubt until the final out. There was Maverick runners on second and third in the last inning when Jarrett Karnibad made a diving snow cone catch in right field to close the Maverick rally and give the Wildcats the win and an undefeated record in this tournament 4-0
The Richmond Hill Chain Wildcats rode their momentum and won the state USSSA Championships in Statesboro June 21-22. The Wildcats completed an undefeated record for this tournament as well 4-0.
The Wildcats defeated the Blackhawks in the semi finals 9-1. Douglas Wood pitched a complete game fueled by RBIS by Whetstone and Graham Cowan.
Carter, Jared McKinney, Karnibad and Nick McCollum all added runs.
The Wildcats then played the No. 2-ranked team at the time, the Greenbriar Grizzlies. The Wildcats had earlier defeated the Grizzlies 3-2 in extra innings.
A game that went seven innings was finally won by the Wildcats when Carter pushed a perfect safety squeeze down the first base line scoring a sprinting Cole Gambino.
The final was another close battle. McCollum twirled five innings of one-run ball.
His masterful pitch selection kept the Grizzlies off balance all game.
However after three innings the Grizzlies led the Wildcats 1-0.
The Wildcats, the home team, loaded the bases when Landon Thomson electrified the Statesboro crowd with the first grand slam home run of his career to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead and then the Wildcats held on to win 5-3 to gain the state championship led by coach Scott Karnibad.
The Wildcats gained their World Series bid to Destin Florida where the top 16 teams played for a World Series Championship.
The Wildcats went undefeated winning two games and tying another.
The rain got the best of this tournament that was rain shortened but found the Wildcats based on their record and huge victory over the Tennessee Sluggers gaining a second place finish.
The Paducha Storm from Kentucky won the tournament based on not tying any of their games and going undefeated.
The Wildcats found themselves in an epic battle against the Sluggers, led by Cam Smith’s relief pitching of three innings and only giving up one run. The game was tied 2-2 in the last inning when another safety squeeze won the World Series battle.
Whetstone on a 1-1 count bunted perfectly and Rovolis scored the winning run from third base.
Propelled by this win, the Wildcats moved into bracket play against the Alabama Titans.
The bats were furious in this game as Whetstone got the win and Rovolis the save. Thomson led off the third inning barrage with a double and the hitting parade did not stop until eight runs were scored and the Wildcats broke open a 2-2 tie and won 10- 2.
The Richmond Hill Wildcats finished the season ranked second in the state and No. 7 in the USA for USSSA DOUBLE AA teams..