NATCHEZ &045; Warning to all you Natchez Confederate League and Natchez Rebel League parents, grandparents and other fans: next time your boys are scheduled to match up, bring the nitroglycerin.

For the second consecutive time out between these two teams, it came down to the last out to decide the outcome.

With the bases loaded, and the Rebel League trailing by one, Cory Emanuel, on in relief, got Shiloh Atkins to strike out to preserve a 10-9 Confederate League win at the District 6 West Sub-district Dixie Youth tournament at Ballew-Bowlin Field Saturday.

&uot;I don’t know if I can take another game like this,&uot; said Confederate coach Al Hall, whose team won 4-2 in extra innings last Saturday over the Rebel League to capture the city championship.

Up five heading into the bottom of the sixth there was a mixup among coaches about who would start the inning on the mound.

With Collin Hammons warmed, Hall planned on starter Ryan Goddard throwing until he got himself into trouble.

However, Hammons took to the hill, and it was two batters in before coaches start to scratch their heads about the mistake.

&uot;I thought coach (Andy) Yates had sent Collin out there and he thought I did,&uot; Hall said. &uot;We told Collin to be ready before the inning, and there was just a misunderstanding that’s all.&uot;

Caleb Upton scored the Rebel League’s first run of the inning to cut the deficit to 10-6 when catcher Andrew Moroney’s throw ended up in left field.

Daniel Guedon doubled to left centerfield to score Christopher Perry, and would score with Brandon Sanders on a James Moffett 2-RBI single off reliever Cory Emanuel.

&uot;It shouldn’t have come down to that last inning. We didn’t get the key hits,&uot; said Rebel League coach Tom Middleton, whose team left the bases loaded twice including the last and to LOB all together. &uot;If we could of had the right hits at the right time we would’ve won.&uot;

After giving up the hit Emanuel settled down to get Semmes White and Atkins swinging.

The win means the Confederate League does not play again until Tuesday when it plays the winner of Monday’s game between the Rebel League and Pine Hills, who eliminated Franklin County earlier Saturday.

The victor of Monday night’s matchup will have to defeat the Confederate League twice to earn the championship.

&uot;I feel like we’re in the driver’s seat right now,&uot; Hall said. &uot;I’m not going to say we’ll win it, but this put us in good position. Both of these teams played their hearts out tonight. These are two great ball clubs.&uot;

The Confederate League pushed out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Emanuel blasted a 2-run homer off Tyler Morrison over the AmSouth Bank fence sign in centerfield.

The Rebel League answered in its half of the inning when Hunter Hatcher singled home leadoff man Garrett Smith, and Hatcher scored on a Perry sacrifice fly to right field.

&uot;Tyler pitched his heart out for us tonight,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;I can’t ask him to do any more than that.&uot;

Each team scored a run in the second, and the Rebel League took a 4-3 lead when Hatcher scored on a strange play.

Hatcher reached with a single, and advanced to third on a Morrison fielder’s choice.

Then the first pitch to Perry was a ball. As Moroney was throwing it back to Goddard, the pitcher had his head turned, and the ball rolled to second, allowing Hatcher to race home.

The Confederate League scord four runs in its half of the fourth when Emanuel led things off with a double.

Daniel &uot;Smiley&uot; Dunaway scored him with an infield single to tie the game. Then Dylan Pressgrove scored Dunaway and Goddard, who had singled, with a triple into right field.

The Confederate League never trailed again.

&uot;That’s baseball at its finest right there,&uot; Confederate League coach Andy Yates said. &uot;We hit the ball, and made some good plays out there. We kind of relaxed at the end, but we just wanted to make it interesting for the moms and dads.

&uot;I can’t say enough about these kids. They’re hard working and never have quit on us.&uot;