NATCHEZ — Natchez Dixie Youth Baseball’s competitive Tee Ball division had a city championship game that took place on May 20 at Duncan Park between Great River Chevy and Natchez Market.

Natchez Market won that game 20-7 and needed just four innings to be crowned city champions by way of the 10-run rule, said Tim McCann, who is over the Tee Ball division. Players from those two teams were named to the Natchez American and Natchez National All-Star teams that are playing in the district tournament in Summit this weekend.

Both teams got off to strong starts before having to play each other Saturday afternoon. The Natchez Nationals took care of the McComb Americans Friday night 19-4 in three innings. Landon French led the way with three hits and six runs batted in and Tamihana Starr had two hits and three RBIs.

Then they had to rally from deficits of 10-7 and 13-11 to defeat the McComb Nationals 21-13 Saturday morning. Starr had another solid game at the plate with three hits and three RBIs while Mikey Brumfield had three hits and two RBIs and John Matthieu Robin added four RBIs.

The Natchez Nationals tallied a combined 50 hits in their first two tournament games — 23 against the McComb Americans and 27 against the McComb Nationals.

The Natchez Americans defeated Franklin County 29-16 Friday night and the Natchez Nationals 20-9 in four innings to remain undefeated. In the win over the Natchez Nationals, the Natchez Americans out-hit them 24 to 17, with three hits each from Paxton Johns, Crews Marchbanks and Kyrin Johnson.

The Natchez Americans defeated the McComb Nationals All-Stars 17-2 in three innings by way of the 15-run-after-three innings mercy rule that eliminated the McComb Nationals from the tournament. Meanwhile, the Natchez Nationals received a much-needed bye.

“Our team played really good,” Natchez Americans coach Ryan Marchbanks said. “We’re a real good defensive team. We’ve really come around the last two weeks putting the ball in the infield and the outfield.”

The Natchez Americans was the home team for this game and they scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, seven in the bottom of the second and four in the bottom of the third.

The win by the Natchez Americans meant they would play the Natchez Nationals again, but this time it would be for the district championship at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Carroll-Jones Field at Duncan Park. If the Natchez Nationals wins that game, a second game will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

“The best part about it is, regardless of who wins district, we’re sending two Natchez teams to state,” Marchbanks said, “We’re looking forward to playing in Natchez. There’s going to be a lot of people show up. Hopefully if the weather cooperates, we’ll win district.”

Natchez Nationals head coach John Sullivan said the Nationals would learn from their mistakes in the rematch against the Americans.

“We’re going to be ready for them,” Sullivan said. “We made some mistakes that we’re got to correct. We’ve got to play a good game if we’re going to beat them They’re going to be ready. We’re going to be ready for them. Playing in Natchez, we’ve got a lot of fans from both teams. It’ll be a good atmosphere and good for baseball.”

Natchez Dixie Youth commissioner Jeff Webb said It would also mean that the only loss for a Natchez team would be to another Natchez team.

Both Natchez teams will be going to the Mississippi Dixie Youth T-Ball State Tournament, which will be in Purvis and starts on June 27.