New York Life secured the Brookhaven Exchange Club’s Dixie BoysBaseball League City Championship Tournament title Friday night butit wasn’t easy. Lincoln Ready-Mix rallied for three runs in the topof the seventh to tie the score at 3-3 before New York Life pushedhome the winning run.

In the bottom of the seventh, consecutive walks to Hoyte, Smith,Justin Whatley and Tyler Williford loaded the bases with one out.Sidearm specialist Vance Case replaced starting pitcher Matt Floydon the mound and the bases full. Case threw three straight balls toNYL batter Casey Britt before hitting Britt on the left calf,pushing home the decisive run.

“I had a great bunch of players to work with,” said NYL headcoach Duane Allred as he presented individual trophies to his teamduring a home plate awards ceremony at Exchange Club Field. NYL(16-2) went unbeaten (4-0) in the double-elimination tournament,also winning the regular season title with a 12-2 mark.

Lincoln Ready Mix, 3-11 during the regular season, was thetournament’s Cinderella team. They upset league runner-up Randy’sSports in Thursday night’s semifinals, winning 12-5.

Floyd, the losing pitcher, allowed only 1 hit in the game, afirst-inning, 2-run double by Trey Allred. Floyd struck out 6batters and walked 5 but his teammates committed 5 errors.

Joseph (Jo-Jo) Hart pitched 6 complete innings for New YorkLife. He held Lincoln Ready-Mix scoreless, striking out 4 batters,walking none and allowing 4 hits.

Whatley replaced Hart in the top of the seventh. He was greetedby 3 consecutive singles. Chris Hester’s opposite field single toleft chased home Blake McKee with Lincoln Ready-Mix’s first run. Asingle by Steven Gates drove in Floyd with the second run. Hesterscored the tying run on a grounder by Case and it was 3-3.

All-Stars Announced

Dixie Baseball Commissioner Weldon Smith announced the13 and 14-year-old all-star teams which will begin district playJuly 7, at separate locations. Smith first recognized all of theplayers who had participated in the league this season and askedthe crowd to applaud their efforts.

“All of these boys are equal,” said Smith. “Only a fewof them can become all-stars.”

@Linescore:NEW YORK LIFE 4, LINCOLN READY-MIX3

Lincoln Ready

000

000

3

–

3

7

5

New York Life

200

001

1

–

4

1

1

@Bbstandings: Floyd, Case (7) and Gates. Hart, Whatley(7) and Williford. WP: Whatley. LP: Floyd. 2B: Allred (NYL).Multiple hits: Hester (LRM) 2, Gates (LRM) 2.

Brookhaven 13-Year-Old All-Stars

Roster: Tyler Williford, Casey Britt, Rodney Barker,Blake Brown, Mac Beassie, Matt Floyd, Mason Warren, PatrickHolcomb, Brandt Hinton, Chance Peets, Shane Lynch, Dusty Smith,Brent Fielder. Coaches: Scott Warren, Brent Hinton, DustyPeets.

Brookhaven 14-Year-Old All-Stars

Roster: Cameron Achord, Kyle Wooley, Dwayne Branning,Justin Whatley, Micah Navarro, Scott Farmer, Trey Allred, JasonNix, Christopher Hester, Joseph Hart, Steven Gates, Brad Buckles,Blake McKee, Chris Falvey. Alternates: Timmy Montgomery, JamieWilliams. Coaches: Duane Allred, Danny Gates, HowardWilliams.