ELLISVILLE — The Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a close game and then held on for a 13-9 win over Sebastopol Sunday afternoon to win the Mississippi Dixie Softball Ponytail Traditional State Tournament.

When asked what it felt to have the title of state champions, Natchez 11-12s head coach Kendra McIntosh put it this way: “That is just awesome. It is the first time in a long time that Natchez has come this far. I don’t know what else to say.”

Natchez led 3-1 after one inning of play, but in the top of the third inning Sebastopol scored two runs to tie the game a 4-4. Natchez retook the lead with one run in the bottom of the third inning before its big inning just one inning later for a 12-4 lead.

Sebastopol tried to make the game interesting by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 12-9 game. But after Natchez scored one run in the bottom of the fifth, and Za’Nya Lyles walked the first batter she faced in the top of the sixth, starting pitcher Carleigh Sproulls came on in relief and got the final three outs. Sproulls was credited with the win after allowing two runs in the first two innings. Drue Boyd pitched the next two innings and also gave up just two runs.

Jayde Haller had two singles while Sproulls had a double, Lyles had a single and a triple, and Katie Wilson had a single and a double.

“I just think the girls played awesome. They just played hard. They were ready,” McIntosh said. “They all played good together.”

Next up for the Natchez 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars is the Dixie Youth Softball Ponytail World Series at Myrtle Beach, S.C., which starts Aug. 4.

Natchez 9-10 All-Stars 8, Bay St. Louis 7

MAGEE — Harley Craft pitched four effective innings of relief to keep the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars rallied to defeat the Bay St. Louis All-Stars 8-7 in seven innings Sunday morning at the Mississippi Dixie Softball Angels Traditional State Tournament.

Rileigh Waters led the Natchez 9-10s at the plate by going 3-for-4 while Presley Martin went 2-for-4. Jaidyn Flowers was the starting pitcher for Natchez and Martin came on in relief for Flowers.

The Natchez 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars next played against Columbia at 8 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game.

Magee 28, Natchez 6-and-under All-Stars 14

MAGEE — The Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 6-and-under All-Stars couldn’t produce enough offense to stay with the Magee All-Stars in a 28-14 loss Sunday afternoon at the state tournament.

“We were a little flat today,” Natchez 6-and-under coach Brian Fisher said. “They just ran into a real tough team.”

The Natchez 6-and-under All-Stars next play at 6 p.m. today against Carthage in an elimination game.

Evangeline Parish 10, Vidalia 0

NEW IBERIA, La. — The Vidalia 7- and 8-year-old All-Star team coached by Hailey Guillory saw its season end quickly at the state tournament after falling to Evangeline Parish 10-0

“We played some really good defense. They had some strong hitters. We just weren’t up to it on our batting,” Guillory said. “Plus, it was so muddy out there. They were slipping and sliding everywhere.”

Piper Brown had a triple and Hannah Hitt had a double while Emma Graves and Leah Wilson each had a single.

“We made good contact with the ball, but they were hit right at them,” Guillory added.

By PATRICK JONES

The Natchez Democrat

ELLISVILLE — The Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a close game and then held on for a 13-9 win over Sebastopol Sunday afternoon to win the Mississippi Dixie Softball Ponytail Traditional State Tournament.

When asked what it felt to have the title of state champions, Natchez 11-12s head coach Kendra McIntosh put it this way: “That is just awesome. It is the first time in a long time that Natchez has come this far. I don’t know what else to say.”

Natchez led 3-1 after one inning of play, but in the top of the third inning Sebastopol scored two runs to tie the game a 4-4. Natchez retook the lead with one run in the bottom of the third inning before its big inning just one inning later for a 12-4 lead.

Sebastopol tried to make the game interesting by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 12-9 game. But after Natchez scored one run in the bottom of the fifth, and Za’Nya Lyles walked the first batter she faced in the top of the sixth, starting pitcher Carleigh Sproulls came on in relief and got the final three outs. Sproulls was credited with the win after allowing two runs in the first two innings. Drue Boyd pitched the next two innings and also gave up just two runs.

Jayde Haller had two singles while Sproulls had a double, Lyles had a single and a triple, and Katie Wilson had a single and a double.

“I just think the girls played awesome. They just played hard. They were ready,” McIntosh said. “They all played good together.”

Next up for the Natchez 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars is the Dixie Youth Softball Ponytail World Series at Myrtle Beach, S.C., which starts Aug. 4.

Natchez 9-10 All-Stars 8, Bay St. Louis 7

MAGEE — Harley Craft pitched four effective innings of relief to keep the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars rallied to defeat the Bay St. Louis All-Stars 8-7 in seven innings Sunday morning at the Mississippi Dixie Softball Angels Traditional State Tournament.

Rileigh Waters led the Natchez 9-10s at the plate by going 3-for-4 while Presley Martin went 2-for-4. Jaidyn Flowers was the starting pitcher for Natchez and Martin came on in relief for Flowers.

The Natchez 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars next played against Columbia at 8 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game.

Magee 28, Natchez 6-and-under All-Stars 14

MAGEE — The Natchez-Adams Girls Softball 6-and-under All-Stars couldn’t produce enough offense to stay with the Magee All-Stars in a 28-14 loss Sunday afternoon at the state tournament.

“We were a little flat today,” Natchez 6-and-under coach Brian Fisher said. “They just ran into a real tough team.”

The Natchez 6-and-under All-Stars next play at 6 p.m. today against Carthage in an elimination game.

Evangeline Parish 10, Vidalia 0

NEW IBERIA, La. — The Vidalia 7- and 8-year-old All-Star team coached by Hailey Guillory saw its season end quickly at the state tournament after falling to Evangeline Parish 10-0

“We played some really good defense. They had some strong hitters. We just weren’t up to it on our batting,” Guillory said. “Plus, it was so muddy out there. They were slipping and sliding everywhere.”

Piper Brown had a triple and Hannah Hitt had a double while Emma Graves and Leah Wilson each had a single.

“We made good contact with the ball, but they were hit right at them,” Guillory added.