BROOKHAVEN — The Natchez Dixie Youth 10-year-old All-Stars nearly rallied from an early 5-0 deficit, but the comeback fell a little short as they lost to the Brookhaven Americans 11-10 Friday afternoon in the opening round of the district tournament.

However, the majority of those early runs by the Brookhaven Americans were not the product of several base hits. They did take advantage of some untimely miscues in the field by Natchez to have the good start.

“I think we were a little bit intimidated by the setting and all,” Natchez 10s coach Jeff Gamberi said. “We threw the ball around and made some errors.”

After that, Natchez started to gain some momentum – but not until after the third inning. Natchez scored two runs in the top of the second inning, only to see the Brookhaven Americans put up four more runs in the bottom of the third for what should have been a commanding 9-2 lead.

“After the first inning, the kids settled down and played baseball. We played better defense. Our bats starting coming around,” Gamberi said. “We made a game of it. We gave great effort.”

Offensively, the Natchez 10-year-old All-Stars were led by Jake Maples, who went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in. Christian Wright was 2-for-3 with a double and Landon Krueger also went 2-for-3.

Brady Gamberi was charged with the loss after allowing nine runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in three innings of work. Samuel Merriett, who was 2-for-3 with a double at the plate, came on in relief and held the Brookhaven Americans to just two runs on two hits.

“(Brady) did fine. He gave up just two hits in the first inning. Merriett game in and did all that we asked him to do. He threw strikes,” Gamberi said. “I’m proud of both of them.”

Natchez chipped away with three runs each in the top of the fourth and fifth innings and just like that the score was 9-8. However, the Brookhaven Americans scored two key runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 11-8. But Natchez would not go down easy, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to make it an 11-10 game. Unfortunately, Natchez could not bring in the game-tying run in the frame to keep the game going.

The Natchez 10-year-old All-Stars next play at 6 p.m. today in an elimination game against the loser of the Brookhaven Nationals/Franklin County game.

McComb Americans 17, Natchez 11-12 All-Stars 2

MCCOMB — The Natchez 11- and 12-year-old (O-Zone) All-Stars had a rough outing against the McComb Americans in a 17-2 loss Friday night in the opening round of the district tournament.

“We played good ball. We just got beat by a better team. It wasn’t no doubt,” Natchez 11s-12s coach Seth Eidt said.

Jasin Wesberry pitched the first two innings and took the loss. Cade Eidt, Peyton Wilson and Jones Richardson each pitched one inning. Two of those pitchers tried to help their cause, but against a good McComb Americans team it wasn’t nearly enough.

Wilson singled and later scored a run while Jakalin Adams singled and scored on a Wesberry single.

Next up for the Natchez 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars is an elimination game at 7 p.m. next Monday against the McComb Nationals.