The Natchez Confederate League All-Stars saw its season come to an end Monday night in the 9-10 Dixie Youth State Tournament, as they were eliminated from further play after a heartbreaking 8-5 loss to Carthage in six innings.

In other action, Franklin County stayed alive with a 4-3 win over Philadelphia, while East Central upended Cleveland 12-5.

Natchez lost to Hattiesburg in the opening round before staying alive with a 10-inning win over Columbus Sunday.

In the Natchez-Carthage game, each team threatened several times in the early innings, but the first run of the game did not come until the third inning.

Dan Moody lined an RBI single to centerfield in the top half of the third to give Carthage a 1-0 advantage.

Natchez would answer in the bottom of the fourth inning as Matt Barnes singled, Dustin Carroll walked and Joseph McDonough laced an RBI-double off the left field fence to tie the score at 1-1

After a two out walk to Ross Smith, Luke Brumfield hit into a two base error that allowed two more Natchez runs to score.

Brian Sanderson added an RBI single which gave Natchez a 4-1 lead.

Carthage, which lost to East Central in the second round after defeating Philadelphia, took the game over from there, scoring seven runs in the fifth inning.

Two hit batsmen, five walks and three hits contributed to the scoring frenzy in the fifth.

Mikey Cochran was hit with the bases loaded, Connor Herrington walked to bring in another run, and Moody, Richie Long and Lee Byrd each had RBI singles to highlight the top half of the fifth.

Natchez would score one more run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by Thomas Miller, which made the score its final, 8-5. Natchez would put two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth, but the threat was thwarted by winning pitcher LaQuint Stokes, as he induced a flyout and a strikeout.

Braxton Fondren suffered the loss for Natchez on the mound.

In earlier action, it took seven innings to decide the outcome between Philadelphia and Franklin County, but in the end Franklin County came out on top, 4-3.

&uot;It got interesting there towards the end, but we were fortunate enough to pull it out,&uot; Franklin County head coach Lance Murray said.

Winning pitcher Ryan Ratcliff allowed just three hits and struck out six.

Donnie Tabb suffered the loss for Philadelphia.

Franklin County, which lost to Hattiesburg after defeating Columbus in the first round, receives a bye today and will face the winner of the East Central-Hattiesburg contest Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Cleveland faces Carthage at 6 p.m. at Ballew-Bowlin, followed by Hattiesburg versus East Central at 8 p.m.

The championship game is slated for Thursday at Ballew-Bowlin Field at 7 p.m., with another game set for Friday, if necessary.