The Natchez Dixie Youth 13-year old team fell to tournament host Laurel 10-7 in the Dixie Youth State Tournament on Thursday night.

Laurel went on to face Clarksdale for the state championship in the second game of the double header Thursday night. The game was not complete at press time.

Laurel jumped out of the box early scoring four runs in the top of first inning.

Natchez answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a Jeremy Davis three-run

home run.

Laurel scored two more runs in the top of the second to take the lead 6-3.

But the lead was short lived.

Natchez got three runs to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. Davis tallied two of the runs on another home run head coach Joe Eidt described as a &uot;towering shot.&uot;

Natchez held Laurel scoreless in the top of the third inning and grabbed the lead on an RBI single from Jacob Dollar.

The Dollar single was the last run Natchez would score.

Laurel grabbed the lead in the fourth inning with two runs and never looked back.

Eidt said the key to Laurel’s victory was early &uot;seeing-eye hits&uot; in the first inning that helped them score their four runs.

Natchez’s last chance at victory came in the bottom of the seventh inning.

They loaded the bases on two errors and had no outs, but Laurel pitcher David Sims retired the next three batters to secure the win.

Davis was the top hitter on the night for Natchez. He was 3-4 with five RBIs. Dustin Case was 1-2, Kevin Bishop was 1-4, Chris Rasko was 2-4, Drew Burns was 1-4 with a triple, Jacob Dollar was 1-3 and Preston Hicks was 1-3 with a double.

Eidt said he is proud of the team’s performance.

&uot;They represented the league and the city well,&uot; Eidt said. &uot;They had a lot of pride heart and courage.&uot;