A severe thunderstorm played havoc with the Dixie Youth BaseballMajor League North Subdistrict Tournament Wednesday night atKeystone Park. After two rain-delays, the championship finals wererescheduled for tonight, starting at 6 p.m.

The Americans had taken a 1-0 lead over the Nationals and thegame was in the bottom of the second inning when rain and lightninghalted play. Tyler Cunningham was on the mound for the Nationalsand Zack Watson was pitching for the Americans.

The Nationals (3-0) are unbeaten in the double-eliminationtournament and the Americans (2-1) have one loss, a second round3-0 setback at the hands of Hazlehurst. If the Americans win thefirst game tonight, a second game would follow to determine thesubdistrict champion.

According to Dixie Youth Baseball District Director Windsor Gay,the Major League District Tournament will begin Monday night atSummit. The North subdistrict champion will play South championMcComb at 6. Summit, the host team, will play the West champion,either Franklin County or Natchez, at 8. McComb whipped Walthall inthe South subdistrict finals.

Winner of the double-elimination district tournament advances tothe state tournament in Hattiesburg, starting July 30.

Dixie Boys Delayed

Rain and lightning also delayed the finals of the DixieBoys 13s District Tournament at Windsor Gay Youth Sports Complex inSummit. “The field wasn’t that wet but the lightning was horrible,”said Gay. “It was some of the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Once-beaten Summit is playing unbeaten Natchez in the13s finals at 6 tonight. The champion advances to the statetournament at Forest, starting July 21.

In the Dixie Boys 14s District Tournament at Natchez,Summit suffered its first loss yesterday and must play Natchezagain to determine a champion. The 14s state tournament is atKosciusko, starting July 21.

Summit Wins AAA

At Pine Hills in Gloster, Summit beat Franklin Countytwice in the finals to clinch the Dixie Youth AAA DistrictTournament and a berth in the state tournament at Petal whichbegins July 21.