MCCOMB &045; This one was another close one &045; maybe even closer.

Natchez and McComb went extra innings to determine Game 2 of the Major League 12-year-old district championship, but McComb got a run in the the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-4 win and claim the championship.

It’s McComb that’s going to the state tournament in Pascagoula next week, although Natchez gave a good team a run for its money.

&uot;That McComb team was definitely strong, and our kids definitely have nothing to be ashamed of,&uot; Natchez head coach Reagan White said.&160;&uot;Our kids rose to our competition. They put on a show in Hazlehurst. Hopefully our kids will keep their heads high and try again next year.&uot;

For the second straight night the Natchez All-Stars battled back to at least tie it up, and the game remained tied at 4-4 following the fourth inning until going into the seventh. There All-Stars came up empty in the top half and ran into trouble in the bottom half when Aaron White walked Ben Kavanay walked to lead off the inning.

Kavanay eventually got to third, and Natchez coaches opted to load the bases with the heart of the lineup coming up. Josh Armstreet and Zach Smith were walked to load the bases, and Kavanay got thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on a passed ball.

That left first base open, and Natchez coaches intentionally walked Josh Cunningham to load the bases again. Then Revis Butler lined a shot down the left-field line to score Armstreet to end the game.

&uot;By walking the leadoff man, that basically put the pressure on our pitching and defense,&uot; Reagan White said. &uot;The kid came through with a hit when they needed it. Our hands were basically tied. We had to get a force somewhere. A lot of fans didn’t understand it, but that’s part of it.&uot;

McComb took a 4-2 lead in the third when A.P. Mabile singled in Randall Harvey and Zach Rowell, but Natchez answered with two in the top of the fourth. R.J. Fleming led off with a home run, and Caleb Johnson reached base and later scored on a passed ball to tie it up.

Natchez had a chance in the fifth when Dylan White singled and Kent King walked with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning against reliever Butler.

&uot;Butler threw pretty hard but nothing we shouldn’t have been able to handle,&uot; Reagan White said. &uot;The bats went dead the last three innings when we really needed them to come through. We played excellent defense, and both our pitchers pitched an excellent game.&uot;