MONROE, La. — Concordia Parish 11-year-olds All-Star coach Whest Shirley thought his team was going to take on Caldwell Parish in the first round of the district tournament.

He assumed that Caldwell Parish was going to beat West Monroe and end up as the No. 5 seed. Instead, West Monroe defeated Caldwell Parish for that distinction and ended up being Concordia Parish’s opponent Tuesday afternoon.

It still did not matter, though, as Concordia Parish used a pair of big home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat West Monroe 8-1 to advance in the winners’ bracket and will take on Caldwell Parish at 6 p.m. today.

Cole Cangemi was the winning pitcher for Concordia Parish. He pitched the final four innings and did not allow a single run while striking out nine and walking just three batters. All four of West Monroe’s hits in the game were singles.

West Monroe got off to a good start by scoring one run in the top of the first inning, but it was all Concordia Parish from there. Tyler Cothern tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

Nathan Knapp hit a two-run double as part of a three-run rally in the bottom of the third inning as Concordia Parish took the lead for good at 4-1. But the home team in this game wasn’t done yet.

Pate Shirley and Cangemi each got on with a singe before Chandler Grayson belted a three-run home run and Jake Cooper followed that up with a solo home run. Cothren went 2-for-3 and Shirley was 2-for-2 with a walk.

Concordia Parish 12-year-olds All-Stars win sub-district tourney

WINNSBORO, La. — The Concordia Parish 12-year-olds All-Star team was just two innings away from winning the Sub-district Tournament until it saw a five-run lead evaporate and the game ended up going to extra innings.

But Winnsboro relief pitcher Dee McCarthy walked the bases loaded and then threw a wild pitch with Trey Book at bat, allowing William Handjis to score the game-winning run as Concordia Parish took an 8-7 victory and the championship.

Concordia Parish will take on Osterland in Monroe, La. in the district tournament, which starts Saturday.

“Our game shouldn’t have went past six innings. They tied it up. Still a pretty good game,” Concordia Parish 12-year-olds All-Star head coach Jon Nunnery said. “Best team we’ve played so far for sure.”

Concordia Parish scored in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Ty Brown. However, Winnsboro responded with one run each in the top of the second and third innings. Concordia Parish found itself trailing for the first time in the tournament.

Then it looked like Concordia Parish was on its way to an easy win after scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 7-2 lead.

But Concordia Parish had to make a pitching change before the fifth inning began after Brown, the starting pitcher, hurt his arm and had to leave the game. Hayden Nunnery came on in relief and that’s when the drama started. Peyton Jones hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth and Cameron Ulmer hit a two-run homer an inning later to tie the game at 7-7 before Concordia Parish won the game in the bottom of the eighth.

“It was exciting. Best game I’ve seen in years,” coach Nunnery said.

Alan Doyle was the winning pitcher for Concordia Parish while McCarthy was the losing pitcher for Winnsboro.