Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 17 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Natchez 9s fall short in state title bid
Published Monday, July 28, 2008
HATTIESBURG — The Natchez All-Stars might have been the most talented team at the Dixie Youth 9-year-old State Tournament, but they won’t get a chance to prove that they are the best.
Natchez was eliminated from the tournament with a 5-1 loss to Canton Sunday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Natchez defeated Copiah 13-3 in five innings in the round robin tournament.
Natchez wound up with a 1-2 record in the tournament.
Both games were supposed to be played Saturday, but were postponed due to rain.
Natchez coach Gary Farmer said he feels his team was the best team at the tournament, but an upset loss to Cleveland on Friday night spoiled their chance for a state championship.
“I still feel like the best team’s coming home and that’s Natchez,” Farmer said. “The loss on Friday ended up being the backbreaker. We had a better team than Cleveland, but weren’t prepared. The blame goes on the coaches. We overlooked them and they snuck up on us. That ended up putting us out of the championship game.”
Natchez seemed to put that loss behind them on Sunday morning, as they pounded out 15 hits and run-ruled Copiah, the fifth time they have beaten them in All-Star play.
Natchez scored six runs in the third inning to break open a tie game and never looked back, winning the game in five innings.
“They came out fired up against Copiah and really hit the ball well and played a flawless defensive game,” Farmer said. “We really put runs on the board. They really wanted it.”
However, the hot hitting would not last until the afternoon.
The team could only muster one hit — a bunt single by Christian Day — in a season-ending loss to Canton.
“We just hit the ball right at them,” Farmer said. “It was kind of like it wasn’t our day, it was Canton’s day. They have a great club but I promise you they’re no better than Natchez.”
Natchez also had defensive breakdowns that cost them four unearned runs in the top of the third inning.
“The score should have been 1-1,” Farmer said. “We had three errors in the inning they scored the four runs. It’s unusual and unlike us to make errors on defense, but you’ve got to remember they’re just 9 years old.”
Despite the loss, Farmer was proud of the way his team competed, going undefeated through tournament play until state.
“I told them I’m proud of them one through 12,” Farmer said. “I’m grateful to the parents and players for their dedication to the team and thankful for Natchez’s support.”
Thanks to the odd round robin format, Copiah and Canton will play for the state championship tonight.
Both teams came through round robin play with a 2-1 record.
Copiah will play for the state championship despite having lost five times to Natchez in All-Star play, including two games where they were mercy ruled.
Comments
Posted by DixieYouthFan (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Couldn't have said it better myself.....To Quote the great Coach Farmer, “The loss on Friday ended up being the backbreaker. We had a better team than Cleveland, but weren’t prepared. The blame goes on the coaches. We overlooked them and they snuck up on us. That ended up putting us out of the championship game.”
You always got to win the 1st one......Can't think about game 2 until game 1 is in the bag........Another quote was "Lightning in a bottle" and last but not least was, “I still feel like the best team’s coming home and that’s Natchez,” Farmer said. Well that would be wrong as well...The best two that are left are Canton and Copiah....Those could be the worst Coaches in the history of Dixie Youth Baseball....Good Job of overlooking the two best teams in the North......Thanks a million....
He was way to worried about Copiah and his precious Fireworks....Well guess they have a years shelf life I hope.......
Posted by crawgator (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DYF, you got it. You hear it every day all day when any athlete is interviewed say "We're taking it one game at a time." That is the way it should be , and never underestimate your challenger. To be the best team you have to win it ALL. I'm not saying this is not a fine group of young men, they have to be just to be where they were, but they are at home. Coahing can lose games, players can lose games, and you can be outplayed. If your not prepared any can happen. Learn from your mistakes and move forward, stay hungry so you CAN be the best team still There.
Posted by supermom (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job by the boys, they worked hard to get that far and should be very proud of themselves. Please remember, these are 9 yr old boys. They are there for the love of the game and nothing else at that age. Parents and coaches often forget that.
Posted by tigermom (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Natchez 9 yr.old all-stars. You represented Natchez well; players, coaches and parents alike. "Supermom", I too agree that these are 9 yr. old little boys that gave it their all.
Not everyone feels the need to analyze with such confiction the reason that they may not have won the actual state title. These young boys are winners by their play and dedication.
As for the "dyf', did maybe you or your child get left out of the all-stars at some point in your life. You sound very bitter and hostile, remember green never looks good on your face!
Posted by popeye3 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a ball player and coach, I don't like the way Coach Farmer downplayed the other teams victory. Instead of giving credit to the teams that beat him, all he can say is that "we were the best team there". Although he is probably right, you just don't say that .
DYF- baseball is nothing like football or basketball, where the biggest, fastest, and strongest are sure to win. Baseball is a skill sport. Anybody can win on any day. That is why the World Series is 7 games and not just 1 like the Super Bowl.
As for overlooking Cleveland: Unless Coach Farmer completely ignored the fact that they had to play Cleveland then that loss is all on the players. Coach Farmer did the right thing in trying to place the blame on himself, but those players know it is up to them to win a game. They have to learn from it and make sure it doesn't happen again.
But anyways, great job Natchez 9 year olds. Yall have a lot of years left together and that State Championship will come.
Posted by ntz155 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dixie Youth Fan must be a Copiah parent. The fireworks were always done by some of the older kids, and Coach Farmer had nothing to do with them. Natchez did not shoot fireworks after they 10 run ruled Copiah yesterday. This was the second game that these 9 year olds played yesterday, and it was very hot. They made some errors and lost. They are 9 year olds. They have done a great job, and Natchez should be proud of them. They won a State Championship last year as 8 year olds, and I'm sure there will be more to come.
Posted by dawgtillthedeath (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez 9's are a super fun squad to watch. They are not the same team without Bradley on the mound. He's as tough a player as I've seen. When he's on the mound he mixes his pitches up and keeps batters off balance. His fast ball is good enough that you have to respect it, but it's his change that makes him the pitcher that he is. Hindsight is 20/20, but Farmer did not put his team in the best position to take home a State Title. Baseball 101....go all out pitching wise to win the first game of any tourney you play. Then use strategy to make it the rest of the way. Farmer didn't and it backfired and cost his kids a chance at another state title. Baseball is a game of odds and he didn't pitch his ace in the hole in the most important game of the year (E Cleavland) up to that point and that's difficult to understand in hindsight. His desire to beat Copiah got in the way of his kids opportunity to win a State Title.....which they were VERY capable of doing. Kudo's to Copiah for understanding how to play the bracket....which resulted in an Overall State Title for their 9 yr old kids.
Posted by mropinion (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all congratulations to the Natchez 9's. What a great team all around. These are some of the best young men I know. My son and our family have been with this team for the last two years. This team, coaches, and parents all feel like family. We have enjoyed every minute of it. We could not have asked for a better head coach. To you Dixie Youth Fan, there is bitterness in your tone no doubt. Gary Farmer had absolutely nothing to do with the fireworks. Those were in fact a group of kids just celebrating. Obviously they were used when we beat your team. Otherwise you wouldn't care. These boys made a great team. But not without great coaches. They were not bad coaches or we would not have won the State Title last year and a South State this year. There were some good teams at the tournament and maybe we did over look some of them. But the way the tournament was set up was not very smart. The team that now holds the State Title never could defeat the team that holds the South State Title. Go figure!! ---Kim Dukes
Posted by DixieYouthFan (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We didn't make the bracket just played it.....However we hold the state title....Go Figure!!
Posted by supermom (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously DixieYouthFan you were NOT part of the team that the sportsmanship award was given to............
These are 9 yr old boys playing the game they love, parents need to let them play and not ruin it for them.
Please remember that these coaches are all VOLUNTEERS!!
They are not professionals, they make mistakes, just like the kids.
If you don't like they way they coach, I'm sure someone will let you wear a hat.
Posted by DixieYouthFan (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To Supermom....I have a coaches hat.....and I am not afraid of making decisions. Two of your coaches the first base coach and 3rd base coaches are truly unsportsmanlike....His comment to one of our coaches as he left the complex was "lowclass" that is where the beef is We have the utmost respect for your 9 year olds. We even came on the field with our hats off and were clapping for them as they received their medals (Showing the players nothing but respect)....This is not about your 9 year olds...They are tremendous athletes and a great team. The coaches are the ones that bring the bad blood to the field the first base and the 3rd base coaches...The other two coaches are very good sports and are tremendous coaches.......They are of the utmost displays of true sportsmanship...It is sad when two bad apples spoil the whole bunch.....
Posted by natchezmom52 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A coaches hat in what? Take a good look at yourself instead of being so negative about everyone else. Are you forgetting about the kids? Call Dr Phil I'm sure he can help!
Posted by ntzfan (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I attended the All Star games and Natchez should be and IS PROUD!! I have never responded to a blog but feel after the misrepresentation posted above I have to. As for the Copiah Coaches bringing their players "on the field with our hats off and clapping as they received their medals" this is only after the Copiah team sat on the front row of the Canton side stomping their feet, leading cheers, and celebrating every out against Natchez. Then when Canton made the third out in the sixth inning, Copiah jumped, screamed and waved Natchez good-bye. Are we not from the same district? Is that the good sportsmanship you talk about? Just because Copiah has nothing but hate in their hearts for Natchez does not mean we feel the same way. This is 9 year old baseball and we appreciate good baseball. Cleveland, Canton, Copiah, and Natchez represented Mississippi well!! Enjoy your state championship and stop blogging!!
Posted by DixieYouthFan (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To Natchezmom52. I called Dr. Phil and he advised to let you know that somewhere somebody loves you!!!!!
You must not have read the post...It was not directed towards your kids....They are truly a hard working, gutsy bunch of talented kids.......they had a great post-season(Numerous Trophies and Medals, SubDistrict, District, South State and State Tournaments) to show for it.....they had a great run and will truly have another solid club next year as well, as (10's)...Hats off to Natchez for the year that they had and good luck in the rest of the summer and your upcoming school year....
Posted by misslou (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to all the 9 year olds that represented Natchez so well. They are a solid group of boys in every position and should be proud of their accomplishments, I'm certainly proud of them.
DixieYouthFan you are the type fan Dixie Youth doesn't need. Your going to make accusations about something one of Natchez coach’s said that was inappropriate then make the comments you did. I can defiantly see that you are the bigger man.
Congratulations to Copiah on their win.
Posted by KidsWin (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to apologize to Natchez for any misinterpretation of the cheering for Canton. We know half the team and coaches from Canton the cheering was for them, not against Natchez. Unfortunately both (N and C) have parents that think the game is about them and not the kids. Neither of those parents represent the teams and should be ashamed. "If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything" isn't that what we teach our kids. These kids and coaches have spent hours upon hours practising and all should celebrate their accomplishments.
There were 144 Champion Kids and 36 Champion Coaches that began the games on Friday night and 144 Champion Kids and 36 Champion Coaches that left. WOW all the way to State!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to all the teams, coaches and parents that have endured 5 months of baseball!
Posted by hollywood (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Natchez 9's!! I got a kick out of reading these comments.... and once again - Parents ruin everything - I hope none of the kids read your comments.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)