Natchez All-Stars beat McComb American 30-28
Published 12:07 am Saturday, July 6, 2013
NATCHEZ — The Natchez All-Stars tee ball team came out swinging Friday night against the McComb American All-Stars in the district tournament that resulted in a 30-28 victory.
Natchez got off to a quick start as their third batter Alex Polard tripled to bring in Kyle Rushing and Jordan Berry before heading home himself off an overthrown pass.
Natchez scored four more times, hitting the seven-run limit rule that only allows a team to score seven times before ending the inning.
With a 7-0 start, McComb American came back strong in the bottom of the first with six runs.
Luke Loudenslager hit an in-field home run that also brought in George Glass.
After four more runs, Natchez put a halt to McComb American’s quick scoring.
In the top of the second, Crews Marchbanks doubled to bring in Cooper Wells for the Natchez All-Stars. But that would be the only runs Natchez saw for the inning as McComb American tighten up its defense.
With the score 8-6 going in to the bottom of the second, McComb American rallied back to take the lead 10-8.
This lead change was powered by Liam Magee’s triple to bring in James Maxfenn and Kasen White.
But Natchez wouldn’t give up easy as they went to the top of the third scoring five runs to come out on top 13-10.
McComb came within one as they were able to get two runs in the bottom of the third.
Natchez extended its lead in the fourth to eight runs as Berry’s triple lead the way for Hayden Beasley to score, and Jamie Wilson soon followed after running home on an overthrown pass by McComb American.
The inning ended because of the seven-run limit, Natchez’s second of the game.
With a comfortable 20-12 lead, Natchez allowed only two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
They came back to the dugout and kept their bats hot as they reached the seven-run inning limit once more in the top of the fifth.
This inning was led by Wells who scored off of an error.
Now 27-14, McComb never gave up as they turned up their offense and reached their first seven-run limit of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
McComb cracked down on their defense in the sixth as they only allowed Natchez to score three times.
Wells was the leader of the three runs as he tripled to bring in Landon French and Coleman Carter.
Natchez had a 30-21 lead at the bottom of the sixth, and McComb went for another seven-run inning for a late-game rally, but the limit rule didn’t allow them to have a chance at winning.
The ballgame ended with a score of 30-28.
Natchez All-Stars head coach John Sullivan said he was happy with his team’s batting Friday.
“That is what we practice, we came out and did exactly what we taught in practice. We hit the ball like we’re supposed to,” he said.
Sullivan said they fielded the ball really well also. He said that they still have more games to play, so they can’t get too ahead of themselves.
“We have to stay focused, concentrate and play to the very end every game,” he said.
The Natchez All-Stars play the McComb Nationals at 6 p.m. today at Duncan Park in the second round of the district tournament.