From

Staff Reports

MAGEE &8212; The Natchez 12-year-old Dixie Youth All-Stars will not defend their crown from last season.

Natchez was eliminated after three games in the state tournament Tuesday night by Yazoo City in a 4-1 decision.

This same group won the 11-year-old state championship last year here in Natchez.

Much like several previous losses throughout the All-Star season, Natchez had numerous opportunities to take the win but saw them slip through their grasp.

After three scoreless innings, Jake Brumfield of Natchez led off the fourth with a solo home run to give Natchez a 1-0 lead.

Yazoo City answered back in the bottom of the inning however, working the count and forcing four Scott Turner walks and several errors in scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead.

Turner had been on fire in the early part of the game, retiring nine straight batters and striking out six after a lead-off walk through the first three innings.

Another run off an error in the bottom of the fifth inning gave Yazoo City its final run.

Ben Fouche, who struck out nine batters, took the win on the mound for Yazoo City.

Turner took the loss for Natchez, although he also struck out nine batters.

Natchez had numerous opportunities, most notably the first inning when Turner led off the game with a single, followed by a double from Christopher Perry. Turner tried to score but was tagged out in a rundown while Perry took third.

The next batter struck out on a wild pitch and Perry attempted to score but was thrown out.

Natchez also left batters on in the second and third innings.

Through three innings, Natchez had five hits and four runners left on base with no runs scored.

The loss eliminated Natchez from the 12-year-old state Dixie Youth tournament.