Tbilisi, Georgia, is fourth in Series’ 10-team lineup

The 10-team field for the 2005 Senior League World Series continues to fill up, with a fourth entry determined Wednesday during championship-round play in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region.

The Georgia YMCA Little League of Tbilisi, Georgia, emerged from a five-team field of European contenders to earn its trip to the SLWS, which will run Aug. 14-20 at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.

The Georgia team defeated the Ramstein/Vogelweh American Little League of Ramstein, Germany, 14-4 in the EMEA final at Miejska Gorka, Poland, to complete an unbeaten run through its regional.

Georgia defeated the Ramstein team 20-13 during pool play and also defeated teams from the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, and Austria before topping the once-beaten Ramstein team again in the championship game.

Georgia joins Asia Pacific champion Guam, Latin American champion Santiago Veraguas, Panama, and host Bangor as teams already qualified for this year’s SLWS field.

Six teams remain to be determined for the series, including five U.S. representatives and the Canadian champion. The U.S. West tournament is under way, while the remaining qualifying events begin Thursday and Friday.

Opening ceremonies for the 2005 Senior League World Series are scheduled for the evening of Aug. 13. The games begin at noon the next day when Bangor plays the Canadian champion to open five days of play featuring two five-team pools.

Pool A will consist of Guam, Bangor, Canada, U.S. South, and U.S. West. Pool B will consist of Georgia, Panama, U.S. Central, U.S. East, and U.S. Southwest.

There are four games each day Sunday through Thursday, with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the semifinals on Aug. 19. The championship game is set for Aug. 20.

Freehold Township, N.J., is the defending SLWS champion.