HAZLEHURST &045; You can’t get any more timely than this.

For the second straight night the Natchez 12-year-old All-Stars got some big home runs early to dispose of the Brookhaven Americans, this time by a score of 10-4. The win puts the Natchez All-Stars in the North sub-district tournament championship at 6 p.m. today against the Brookhaven Nationals.

The Nationals, who lost to Natchez 4-1 in the opening round of the tournament, must beat Natchez twice to claim the title. The winner will host Game 1 of a best-of-three series against the South champ for a shot at the state tournament.

&uot;I thought (Americans) were the better of the two Brookhaven teams,&uot; Natchez coach Reagan White said.&160;&uot;We had to play each other again. Now they (Nationals) have to beat us twice. We’ve still got three pitchers left, so we’re in good shape.&uot;

Natchez got home runs from Caleb Johnson and Audie Crosby early to set the tone. Johnson and Cody Floyd went yard early in Monday’s game, a 3-2 Natchez win. Johnson’s shot was a two-run blast after Kent King walked in the first, and Crosby’s solo homer came in the second.

The All-Stars followed that up with a seven-run fourth inning to answer a three-run inning the Americans tacked on in the top half.

&uot;Caleb hit his, and it kind of set the tempo,&uot; White said.&160;&uot;It put us up quick. Hitting has been our strong point, but we haven’t shown it in the last two or three games.&uot;

In the fourth the All-Stars got started quick when Cole Mann singled in R.J. Fleming and Tyler Ballard to break open the 3-3 tie. Crosby followed with a single to score Mann, and Cody Floyd singled in Hunter Russ for a 7-3 lead.

Bryce Murray’s fielder’s choice brought in another run, Dylan White singled in Floyd and Aaron White knocked in Colin Dollar for the 10-3 lead.

Brookhaven scored a run in the sixth off Dollar, who went the distance while striking out 11 and allowing three hits. Dollar walked six and hit three batters.