GALLMAN — After getting off to a somewhat slow start, the Natchez Dixie Youth 10-year-old All-Stars’ bats came alive in the final three innings as they defeated the Lincoln County Nationals 15-5 Monday night in a winner’s bracket game at the sub-district tournament at Copiah Academy.

“It was just an all-around team effort,” Natchez 10s coach John Ward Junkin said. “All 12 players on our team scored at least one run Monday.”

Natchez scored two runs in the top of the first inning and one run in the top of the third to give the visiting team a 3-0 lead. And for that period of time, it was plenty of run support for starting and winning pitcher Ronnie McMillin, who held the Lincoln County Nationals scoreless in those opening three frames.

McMillin ran into trouble and was pulled after allowing three runs and getting just one batter out in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Over his three and a third innings on the mound, McMillin gave up three hits, struck out four batters.

“We had some very good pitching by Ronnie McMillin and some outstanding closing by Landon Lees,” Junkin said, “We also had some clutch defense by Ethan Weadock.”

The game was called because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Zeke Flattmann led Natchez’s 15-hit barrage by going 3-for-4 while McMilling helped his cause by going 2-for-3. Colin Cauthern had a triple and Weadock had a double.

The Natchez 10-year-old All-Stars don’t play again until 6 p.m. Thursday in the championship game against the winner of the Lincoln County Americans/Lincoln County Nationals game. Natchez needs just one win, while the winner will have to beat Natchez twice.