Clinging to a one-run advantage heading to the final inning, the Concordia T-ball All-Stars were a shutout frame away from securing its second win in as many days at the Dixie Youth District 5 T-ball tournament.

Concordia got its stand.

Andy Keith, Rankin Wiggins and Rylan Barfoot all recorded putouts to help lift their squad to a dramatic 23-22 win over Caldwell.

“It was excellent defense, and I couldn’t be more proud of the kids,” Concordia coach Trey Keith said. “That’s what it takes to win is great defense, and to hold them to no runs in the last inning, that’s a great stand.”

After yielding seven runs in each of the first two innings, Concordia clamped down defensively to hold Caldwell to just eight runs total over the final three.

“These kids have earned it,” Keith said. “They’ve worked so hard — we started practicing a month ago, and they deserve it. They work hard, they stay in the game, and they don’t give up, and that’s the most important thing, they never give up until the last out.”

It wasn’t just a defensive show for Concordia as the all-stars displayed some timely hitting as well.

Concordia entered the bottom of the fourth inning trailing 22-21, but an RBI double by Jakyron Johnson and run-scoring single by Kennedy Harris gave their squad the advantage it needed.

But Keith said it all came down to his team’s defensive effort.

“Tonight, the team with the best defense won,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

Andy Keith and Wiggins each had four RBIs for Concordia, while Johnson drove in three runs. Jordan Morrow and Harris each chipped in with a pair of RBIs.

Concordia defeated Winnsboro in its opener Thursday, 41-36. The all-stars will look to sweep through the district tournament at 2:30 p.m. today when it plays Bastrop.

“We’re playing hard, and we’re playing as a team,” Keith said. “We’re tough, we’re playing hard, and we’re not giving up until the last out.”