NATCHEZ — The Natchez All-Stars didn’t have to wait until the third inning for their offense to get going and their bats to wake up in the third and deciding game of the Dixie Youth Coach Pitch District 6 Championship.

Natchez scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and then put the game out of reach with six runs in the bottom of the third, which was all the runs it needed in a 9-2 win over Copiah Monday afternoon at Sprague-Gousset Field to win the district title two games to one.

“They came out hitting like Natchez hits,” Natchez head coach Gary Farmer said. “Played solid defense. Held the other team to two runs. We held them to 10 runs in the three games. Coming from losing the first game to win back-to-back took a lot of guts.”

Natchez scored its first three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. After going scoreless in its half of the second, Natchez put the game away with the six-run barrage on six hits in the bottom of the third.

The key hit was a triple by Dalvion Jackson that brought in three runs that gave Natchez and 8-2 lead.

“Everybody hit the ball hard. That kind of put a shock into Copiah,” Farmer said. “Defense played tremendous. They worked together as a team. This is what this is all about.”

Jack Dukes also had a triple while Gage Dossett went 2-for-2 with a double. Jace Calcote had a double while Craig Bradley and Gabe Smith each went 2-for-3.

Copiah, on the other hand, could only muster four hits. Connor Chapin, Peyton Smith, Bryce Chapman and Noah Chapa each had a single.

Natchez advanced to the state tournament at Magee, which starts Friday, July 13. Because Natchez won the District 6 championship, it will receive a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the game between host Magee and the District 8 champion at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.