BRISTOL -- As lightning struck all around the South Holston Junior Little League field Tuesday night in Bristol, Greeneville's and Clarksville's All-Stars looked to make a little thunder of their own.

Anxious parents huddled under umbrellas while the youngsters left their hearts and souls on the base paths, but in the end, the Greeneville 13-14 year old All-Stars came out on top in the Junior Little League State Tournament, beating Clarksville 7-1.

After six full innings of play, and Greeneville on top 7-1, the Green Machine looked to seal Clarksville's fate, needing only three outs. The sky decided to open during the evening's big storm, and the game was delayed an hour and 45 minutes due to lightning.

After the delay, Greeneville made quick work of the boys from Middle Tennessee, retiring three of the next four batters to win the contest.

"Words can't express this," said coach Jeff Collins. "We gave them all a motto. We told them to check the egos at the gate. They are a bunch of All-Stars, and that's what we wanted them to play like. They are all very team oriented. We simply could not ask for a better group."

Coach Butch Patterson said the win is something the team will never forget.

"This is something they will remember the rest of their lives," he said. "This is what baseball is all about."

While the Greeneville bats made a lot of thunder in Thunder Valley, it was the defense that really shined, led by Greeneville pitcher Jamison Painter. In seven innings of work, Painter gave up only one run on three hits and three walks.

"This feels really good," Painter said. "I'm really excited about winning the championship."

While most pitchers would have been cold coming off such a long delay, Patterson said Painter wanted the ball in his hand for the last three outs.

"Jamison wanted to finish it out," he said. "We told him to go in there and throw strikes, and we told the rest of the boys to go in there and concentrate on one out at a time. They did, and hey, what can you say? They're state champions."

On the offensive end, Greenville scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game. After two quick fly outs, Heath Starnes blasted a double to center, giving Greeneville a runner on second with two outs.

Jordan Renner then singled to score Starnes, giving Greeneville their first lead 2-1.

Greeneville's next offensive barrage came in the bottom of the fourth. After Zach Britton led off with a single, Britton stole second, putting himself in scoring position for Chance Lamb.

Lamb did not disappoint, dropping in a base hit, scoring pinch runner Cory Lindsay. Lamb scored on a botched pick off attempt, extending the lead 3-1.

After a quick out, Rodney Ramsey then put the ball in play, forcing an outfielder error to score Lindsay, but was tagged out at second to end the inning.

Ramsey, however, made up for the base running error in a big way in the bottom of the sixth. With Greeneville's last chance to put some insurance on the board, Ramsey blasted a three-run home run into the center field pine trees, giving Greeneville a 7-1 lead.

After the rain delay, Greeneville came back onto the field retiring three of the next four Clarksville batters to seal the Tennessee state championship and earn a Southern Regional Tournament berth.

"You see this, guys," Patterson told his team after the game, holding the state championship plaque. "This is what we play for, this is why we work so hard. Now you all have the opportunity of a lifetime."

Greeneville's "opportunity of a lifetime" will start Aug. 2 at the Southern Regional Tournament in Cartersville, Ga.

Members of the 13-14 year old All-Stars include Painter, Logan Collins, Eric Lawson, Britton, Lamb, Starnes, Renner, Steven Bentley, Gage Armstrong, Lindsay, Ramsey, Derrick Livingston and Jessie Knight.

Collins expressed his thanks to the Greeneville Recreation Department.

"They do such a great job over there and I don't think some people appreciate what they do for our kids," Collins said. "Butch, Charlie (Rader), Lisa (Fisher) and Tammy (Gregory), and all the maintenance guys ... they have a good staff."