GREENVILLE &045; After rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat Petal in a game that took close to three hours to play, Natchez had to wonder if it lost its momentum, even with a 30-minute break between games.

Especially with a confident Wayne County team, which received a bye into the championship game of the Mississippi Dixie Boys 13-year-old state tournament, waiting in the wings.

However, the outcome of the game still remains in doubt as heavy thunderstorms forced the game to be postponed with Wayne County leading Natchez 16-8 in the sixth inning.

The game will be completed at 3 p.m. today with Natchez at bat.

Natchez 11, Petal 10

GREENVILLE &045; It looked like the season was about to come to an end for Natchez as it trailed 5-1 after 2 1/2 innings, but just as earlier in the tournament this group of kids would not give up.

In the bottom of the seventh, Caleb Johnson hit a ground ball with the bases loaded and Hunter Russ, who hit a home run earlier in the game, scored the winning run as Natchez advanced to the championship game.

The win guarantees Natchez a spot in the Dixie Boys World Series in Muscle Shoals, Ala., which starts next Wednesday.

And just like Tuesday night, when Petal rallied to defeat Natchez 9-8, this game nearly three hours to get completed.

Natchez scored nine runs on five hits in the the third inning to take a 10-5 lead. That may have been the most surprising aspect of this game considering that Natchez had relied on pitching and defense in its first three wins in this tournament.

Natchez, however, did not score again until mattered most in its last at-bat.

Petal answered by scoring five runs over the next two innings to tie the score at 10-10.

Petal took advantage of a couple of Natchez errors and some timely hits to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Natchez scored one run in the bottom of the first but left the bases loaded.

Natchez had a chance to score some runs in the bottom of the second as it had runners at first and second.

R.J. Fleming flied out to the shortstop and the infield fly rule was in play.

The runner at second tried to go to third, but was thrown out to end the inning.