When the alarm clock sounded at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, James Brasher knew a rough day at work was staring him in the face.

About four hours prior to that he had dropped his head on his pillow &045; no telling how long it took him to fall asleep &045; after perhaps the tightest Ferriday Dixie Youth game ever Monday night at George Perry Field.

Brasher’s Ferriday Finance Cardinals won an 5-4, 11-inning marathon for the Major League championship over the Concordia Drug Giants, and knowing he was part of a grudge match like that kept him going all day.

&uot;I needed to come home and drink a bottle of Maalox,&uot; Brasher said. &uot;I think we walked off the field close to 12. Our team and that team has always had one-run games in six or seven innings. It’s a big rivalry between me and the other coach. Nobody wanted to lose.&uot;

The game was one that left everyone talking the rest of the week &045; a scoreless tie after six, a 1-1 tie that stood until the 10th when each team scored three runs to send it to the 11th inning well after 11 p.m.

Finally in the 11th the Cardinals got a run &045; a bases-loaded walk to Bryce Lain to score Freddie Green and end the game that never would end.

&uot;Actually, they took it pretty well,&uot; Giants head coach Lorne Green said of his boys. &uot;They wanted to win, but I think they realized they were in a game for the ages. The boys were tired, and mommas and daddies were worn out. But it was one I won’t ever forget.&uot;

The game was already tight enough, and the crowd seemed to get larger as the game went on. But it appeared to be over when the Giants scored three runs in the top of the 10th to take a 4-1 lead.

The Cardinals put a runner on with one out and another on with two outs when their big stick came up to bat. Trey Brasher put one over the fence to tie it up again and keep everyone glued to their seats.

&uot;It may have taken the air out of (us),&uot; Green said. &uot;We didn’t quit fighting until the end. It’s just the way it goes. Sometimes it lands on the other side of the fence for you.&uot;

That 10th inning was just part of the story. The Giants’ Beau Shively battled Trey Brasher for seven innings &045; the league limit for one game &045; while both topped the 100-pitch count. Brasher struck out 19, while Shively fanned 14.

&uot;Trey is the best pitcher in the league, but Beau matched him pitch for pitch,&uot; Green said. &uot;I’ve been in this league eight years, and he’s probably the best pitcher we’ve faced. He’s just phenomenal.&uot;

But it wasn’t just the two bullies on the mound. Players who hadn’t hit all year had singles, and others who had trouble in the field didn’t make an error.

&uot;They scored three on us, and my boys never got down,&uot; Brasher said. &uot;I’ve watched them all season, and I don’t think they ever played as hard as they did in that game. It was amazing. It would have tickled me to death after we tied it up if we would have called them both co-champs.&uot;

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. You can reach him at (601) 445-3632 or by e-mail at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com.