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Vidalia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone all-star Gage Cupstid gives coach Rob Rushing a high-five after striking out a batter to end the inning Saturday during his team’s state tournament in Vidalia. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

Concordia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone all-star Josh Ingram makes contact with a ball but was tagged out at first base Saturday during his team’s state tournament in Vidalia in 2018. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

(Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

Assistant coach Roy Reyes watches the Concordia team from the dugout Saturday. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

The Concordia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone all-stars, including Gunner Smith, far right, and Riley Roach, second from right, watch as one of their teammates bats during an elimination game of its state tournament Saturday in Vidalia in 2018. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

Concordia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone all-star Gunner Smith is tagged out at second base Saturday. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

The Concordia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone team fell in an elimination game Saturday at its state tournament in Vidalia. Players are front row, from left, McCain Rushing, Jed Jinks, Lawson Reyes, Gunner Smith, Ross Crigler, Josh Ingram; second row, Ethan Keith, Colby Barfoot, Javari Singleton, Landon Whittington, Gage Cupstid, Riley Roach; back row, head coach Glenn Whittington, Roy Reyes and Rob Rushing. (Emmalee Molay |The Natchez Democrat)

The Concordia Dixie Youth 12U Ozone all-star team held on for the majority of Saturday’s elimination game, but a handful of overthrown balls and miscues cost it a second loss in its state tournament in Vidalia.

After a 12-3 loss to Jackson Parish Friday night, Concordia fell to the loser’s bracket and then fell again to Bossier City on Saturday, 11-1.

Saturday’s game went scoreless for the first two innings until Concordia scored one run in the bottom of the third inning when Ethan Keith hit an RBI single to score Lawson Reyes.

Bossier City responded in the top of the fourth inning with three runs of its own.

Concordia coach Glenn Whittington said by the fifth innings, he could see his players getting tired. The heat index of Saturday’s game reached 108 degrees.

“It’s a great group of kids and all of them are great ball players, but they were just burnt out,” he said. “It’s so hot out here.”

The top of the fifth inning was the most productive for Bossier City as they scored eight additional runs. They recorded three quick outs to end the game after five innings.

“We tried to keep them with their heads up. That’s the most important thing,” Whittington said. “We had a lot of mistakes that cost us. I thought the boys would do a lot better when they had the upper hand, but the mistakes just cost us the game.”

Despite the loss, Whittington said he was proud of his team.

Gage Cupstid pitched the first four innings for Concordia while Ross Crigler and Josh Ingram came in for relief.

Cupstid also ended with two hits in the loss.

“They did a really good job,” Whittington said. “This isn’t league ball anymore. We are playing the best against the best.”

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