Natchez 10s fall to defending champions
Published Tuesday, July 8, 2008
NATCHEZ — The Natchez 10-year-old Dixie Youth All-Star team knew it faced a stiff challenge in the defending state champions McComb.
And in the end, it came down to just a few plays that made the difference in a 8-7 McComb victory in the deciding Game 2 of the District 6 Championship series.
“We made some bone-headed plays on defense,” Natchez coach Jeff Webb said. “We hit the ball well and pitched it fairly well.”
Natchez jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double by Tyler Wilson but McComb tied the score in the top of the second when to runs scored on an error.
Natchez re-took the lead in the bottom of the second when Warrick Lewis drove in a run with a triple and then scored on an error by the McComb third baseman.
However, once again McComb answered the punch with a counterpunch of their own.
McComb got its third run on a error before Ben Coney tied the score with a double.
“You have to go out and beat McComb, they’re not going to give it to you,” Webb said. “They’re the defending state champions for a reason.”
McComb took its first lead of the game in the top of the fourth when Tag Gatlin hit a solo home run over the center field fence.
Natchez tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Wilson scored on a fielders choice by Brody Cole.
However, McComb took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fifth.
Peyton Yawn hit an RBI triple to make the score 6-5 and scored on a Natchez error.
Coney then hit a triple to right field and scored after Natchez lost concentration following the throw back into the infield.
Natchez tried to come back in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on a single by Christopher White, but could get no closer.
Natchez put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but a strikeout ended the game.
“Two or three plays make the difference in the game,” Webb said. “We were just one hit away from tying or winning the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.”
Despite the loss, Natchez still makes it into the South State Tournament, albeit with a lower seed.
They will play the District 5 champion in the first game of the tournament at 6 p.m. Friday in Hattiesburg.