TIOGA, La. — Concordia Dixie Youth 6U All-Stars coach Beau Brashier said that Thursday afternoon’s 23-13 loss to the Vernon Nationals was a wake-up call for his players.

Needing to win both games to get out of Bracket A in the round-robin portion of the Louisiana Dixie Youth 2018 T-Ball State Tournament, Concordia did just that with a pair of hard-fought one-run victories.

In the first game, which took place Friday morning on Field 1, Concordia edged past host Tioga (Ward 10) 26-25. The second game, played on Field 2 early Friday afternoon, was just as exciting with Concordia holding on for a 20-19 win over Bossier.

“The kids wanted it more. They wanted to win,” Brashier said. “We played much better defensively than we did (Thursday). It was night and day.”

Players who stood out both offensively and defensively were Jackson Brashier, Bentley Thompson and Tyler Early.

“Caleb Dye hit well. Payton Fife hit the ball well all day,” Brashier said. “We haven’t played our best ball. I still feel like we’ve got room for improvement.”

The Concordia Dixie Youth 6U All-Stars went 2-1 in Bracket A and advanced to the eight-team double-elimination tournament that starts today. They will take on Pineville at 9 a.m. Brashier said that win or lose, they will play again at 1:30 p.m.

Vidalia Little League 14U All-Stars 12, Lake Charles 1 (5 innings)

LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Vidalia Little League 14U All-Stars needed just five innings to defeat the host Lake Charles Little League All-Stars 12-1 Friday afternoon at the 2018 Junior League Softball State Tournament.

Becca Cowan was the winning pitcher for Vidalia. She allowed just one run on two hits, struck out nine batters and walked only one in five innings. She also helped her cause by going 3-for-3 with a double.

Ryliegh Walters, Heidi Zimmerman and Tierra Jefferson each went 2-for-2 while Twala Smith was 1-for-1 at the plate.

“We’re not used to playing on this turf. It rained a little bit right after the game started,” Vidalia coach Donald Bertelson said. “We hit the ball well. We ran the bases well. Becca pitched a really good game. We look forward to (today) and playing Moss Bluff.”

While Lake Charles fell to the losers’ bracket, Vidalia moved on the winners’ bracket will indeed face Moss Bluff, which received a first-round bye, today at 4 p.m. The winner of the Vidalia/Moss Bluff game advances to the championship game at 6 p.m. Sunday while the loser will fall to the losers’ bracket and will take on Lake Charles today at 8 p.m.

Natchez Dixie Youth 6U All-Stars’ state tournament game postponed

CLEVELAND — Inclement weather ahead of a rare July cold front forced the game between the Natchez 6U All-Stars and the Cleveland National All-Stars as well as other first-round games Friday afternoon at the 2018 Mississippi Dixie Youth T-Ball State Tournament to be postponed.

Natchez head coach Doug Atkins said the game will resume today at 9 a.m. Natchez, the visiting team, was leading the Cleveland Nationals 7-2 in the top of the second inning with a runner on second base and no outs.