GONZALES, La. — After getting off to a slow start, Jake Barlow’s grand slam home run ignited an eight-run rally in the top of the third inning as the Concordia Parish 11-year-old All-Stars rolled to a 17-4 win over Morgan City in four innings Friday afternoon, kicking off pool play at the state tournament.

“We’re one step closer,” Concordia Parish 11-year-old All-Stars head coach Whest Shirley said. “If we hit the ball as well as we hit the ball today, I like our chances.”

Morgan City took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and held that lead going into the top of the third. That’s when the wheels fell apart for the home team in the game. With two on, Korey Henson laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first base to load the bases for Barlow, who unloaded them with his grand slam.

“Their pitcher got in trouble. Korey laid down a perfect bunt. Barlow’s grand slam was the turning point of the game,” Shirley said.

Much to Morgan City’s credit, it did score three runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 8-4. But Concordia Parish responded by scoring nine runs in the top of the fourth, with the big blow being a two-run shot by Dylan Parnham.

The only thing Shirley was not pleased with was that his team waited until the second time through the lineup for the bats to really wake up.

“We can’t wait until the third inning to start hitting,” he said. “We’re a slow-starting team.”

Despite that, Concordia Parish finished with 17 hits in the game. Chandler Grayson went 3-for-3 while Parnham and Henson each went 2-for-2

Starting pitcher Cole Cangemi struck out six and walked three in three innings to pick up the win.

The Concordia Parish 11-year-old All-Stars play two games today. They go up against Sabine at 9 a.m. and host Gonzales at 2:30 p.m. If they win their pool, they will play for the championship on Sunday.