VIDALIA — Pate Shirley pitched four and two-thirds solid innings, and J.J. Jenkins and Jacob Wilson pitched the Concordia 14-year-old All-Stars out of a pair of late-game jams in a 9-7 win over the Franklin Parish All-Stars Wednesday afternoon at the district tournament at the Concordia Recreation District 3 Complex.

Shirley allowed two runs on five hits and three walks and he struck out six batters to pick up the win. Jenkins came on in relief of Shirley with two runners on base and two outs in the top of the fifth inning and got the final out of the frame.

Then Jenkins ran into trouble, and Wilson came in for him with the bases loaded and just one out in the top of the sixth. But Franklin Parish once again was not able to take advantage of the situation.

Just one day after Concordia committed six errors in a 9-2 loss to the Monroe All-Stars, head coach James Thomas was pleased with the team’s turnaround, especially on defense.

“We had a lot of errors (Tuesday) that cost us the game. The kids came back today and almost played flawless defense,” Thomas said. “They all hung in there together.”

Both Shirley and Jenkins helped their own cause at the plate, as the each went 2-for-4 with a double. Brian Williams and Dylan Maynard both had a triple, and Craig Bradley was 2-for-4.

“They just hit the ball well. We didn’t have as many strikeouts as we did the past three games,” Smith said.

With the win, Concordia advanced to the championship round and will take on either East Ouachita or Monroe at 5 p.m. today. If Monroe defeats East Ouachita, Concordia would have to defeat Monroe twice to win the district title. However, if East Ouachita pulls off the upset of Monroe, then all three teams would have one loss. And since all three teams have already had a bye in the tournament, a draw would determine which two teams first play against each other and which one awaits the winner of that game.

Lincoln County Americans 19, Natchez 11-12s 1

BUDE — It was not the outcome the Natchez 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars were hoping for as they were defeated by the Lincoln County Americans in the championship round of the district tournament.

Landon Davis went four and one-third innings on the mound, and Ben White hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“The Lincoln Americans had some web gems that ESPN would have loved,” head coach Brynson Rogers said.