Less than three hours after winning the U.S. Southeast Regional Tournament in Apopka on Monday, the Wellington All-Stars had already finalized their travel plans to Little League Baseball’s Intermediate (50-70) Division World Series in Livermore, Calif. Aug. 2-8.

The team of 12- and 13-year-olds will be heading to Tampa International Airport on Thursday for the six-hour flight to The Golden State, but not before getting in a few last-minute practices at Olympia Park.

These player gatherings will be quite different than the scene at the Northwest Recreation Center in Apopka Monday afternoon. The celebration was highly emotional as the Wellington youths defeated Georgia 5-2 and became the U.S. Southeast squad that will vie for the international title on the 50-70 diamonds in Livermore.

“The kids are just ecstatic. Their excitement and smiles tell the story,” Wellington manager Chad Mills said. “They took their game to new heights and now they are on the big stage. They all stepped up big-time.”

The intermediate level utilizes a bigger diamond with a longer pitching distance than Little League’s more well-known Major Division, which ends with World Series play in Williamsport, Pa.

Wellington (13-1) will play its opening game of the Intermediate World Series on Mon., Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. on Max Baer Field in Livermore, which sits south of San Francisco. The south Palm Beach County squad will face the winner of the U.S. East/California game set for Sunday night. ESPN will televise the title showdown on Aug. 8.

In their title showdown in Apopka, the local sluggers ended their eight-inning scoring drought against Georgia in dramatic fashion.

Trailing 1-0 and with runners on second and third and one out in the second inning, Zach Epstein delivered a two-run single to right on the ninth pitch of his at-bat. The hit plated Jacob Baughman (fielder’s choice) and Sam Astern (double).

“That was huge,” Mills said. “Zach and [Georgia’s] pitcher battled and battled that entire at-bat, and Zach won the battle.”

The Florida champions increased their lead to 3-1 in the fourth as Ryan Bruno tripled to right and Jacob Baughman ripped a two-strike RBI single.

After a rough first inning in which Georgia opened the game with three straight hits to temporarily go ahead, Wellington starter Jake Mills struck out the side in the second inning while allowing only one additional single.

“Even when we were behind early in the game, the kids didn’t give up,” Mills said. “Jake mixed up his pitches to try to keep them off balance and it paid off.”

Georgia cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth with a pair of hits, but Wellington would not be denied.

Jude Baxt came through with an RBI single to center, scoring Shawn Steuerer, to build its advantage to 4-2.

Wellington, which totaled eight hits, tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Cristian Medina laced a two-out triple and raced home on a passed ball.

Mills went the distance on the mound, striking out nine while walking only one. Of his 82 pitches, 61 were strikes.

The Wellington All-Stars downed North Carolina 14-4 earlier Monday to reach the title game against Georgia.

Ryan Bruno went 3 for 5 with three runs, while Steuerer and Jaden Bruno each had two hits and three RBI to power Wellington. Griffin Lampton ripped an RBI triple and Mills doubled twice.

Ryan Bruno, who started on the mound, struck out six in five innings to record the win.