NATCHEZ – The Lincoln County Nationals and Americans 9-year-old All-Stars began their march toward the state tournament Friday night at Duncan Park in Natchez.

The Lincoln County Americans suffered a heart-breaking loss in their opening debut falling to the McComb Nationals 13-9 in the first game. In the second game of the night, the Lincoln County Nationals came out and battled in a nail biter, defeating the Natchez All-Stars 20-19 on the opening day of the Dixie Youth AAA District Six tournament.

Tournament action continued Saturday with a pair of 10 a.m. games for Lincoln County. Lincoln County Americans were eliminated by the McComb Americans 15-5.

After surviving a late three-hour contest Friday night from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., the Lincoln County Nationals fought hard to get things going against the Franklin County All-Stars. They could not overcome their fatigue, falling to Franklin County 14-3.

The Lincoln County Nationals will be looking to keep their season alive as they prepare to take on the loser of the McComb Nationals or the Walthall All-Stars series at 6 p.m. The results of this contest were unavailable at press time.

The Dixie Youth AAA 9-year-old tournament will continue on Monday with two games, starting at 6 p.m. The championship game will be played on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

McComb Nationals 13, Lincoln Co. AL 9 

The McComb Nationals and the Lincoln County Americans provided an exciting ball game for their baseball fans in the opener Friday night

Robert Adcock suffered the setback on the mound for Lincoln County.

Tanner Stokes and Adcock directed the Americans with three hits each. Thomas King contributed two hits. Brett Jordan and Xavier Gayten provided one hit each.

Lincoln Co. NL 20, Natchez 19 

The Lincoln Nationals battled the Natchez All-Stars in a three-hour marathon to prevail 20-19 after securing the final out as Natchez was tagged out at home plate in the opener Friday night.

Ian Gatlin led the Lincoln Nationals with four singles. Conner Cunningham provided two doubles and a triple. Brandon Burt contributed four singles. Carson Temple had two hits. Jared Anderson hit a single in the win.

Caden White was the winning pitcher as he threw three innings and striking out four batters. Duane Burt pitched two innings and Mason white earned the save to end the game and preserve the win.

McComb AL 15, Lincoln Co. AL 5

King suffered the setback on the mound for the Americans in Saturday’s morning contest.

Noah Gatlin and Xavier Gayten powered the Americans at the plate with two hits each. Colby Terrell, Adcock, Stokes and King contributed one hit apiece.

Franklin Co. 14, Lincoln Co. NL 3 

In Saturday’s morning contest, the Nationals fell 14-3 to Franklin County. Caden White suffered the setback as he worked three innings before Ian Gatlin pitched the final frame.

Mason White, Ian Gatlin and Jared Anderson led the Nationals at the plate with a single each.