Tyler Case pitched the Brookhaven American League All-Stars pastCopiah County Thursday night. The crafty right-hander tossed a10-strikeout, 1-hitter in the opening round of the Dixie YouthBaseball Major League North Subdistrict Six Tournament as theAmericans romped 11-0.

The Americans tackle the Brookhaven Nationals tonight at 6 inthe second round of the double-elimination tournament. Wesson, a9-0 loser to Natchez last night, plays Copiah at 8 p.m. in anelimination game.

Americans 11, Copiah County 0

Case walked only 1 batter in the 5-inning game which started 18minutes late due to a late afternoon shower which soaked portionsof the diamond. Copiah’s only hit came in the first inning whenMitch Little singled over the third-base bag.

“Our pitcher kept them (Copiah) off balance,” said Americanmanager/head coach Ronnie Keene. “We have four or five goodpitchers. That’s important in a tournament like this.”

American catcher Christian “Bubba”Keene directed the victorywith a triple and a double, plus 3 RBIs. He led of the third inningwith a triple to the right-center field fence, igniting a 4-runexplosion.

Left-fielder Joel Patrick slapped a fourth inning double forBrookhaven. Hunter Fauver accounted for 2 of his team’s hits, athird-inning bunt and a fourth-inning single to left.

The Americans finished with 6 hits. They capitalized on Copiah’s5 fielding errors. Copiah pitchers issued 7 walks.

Starter Dennis Harper went 3 innings and absorbed the loss.Harper fanned 3 batters, walked 1 and gave up 1 run on 2 hits.

The Americans greeted relief pitcher Billy Henley in the top ofthe fourth. He gave up 4 runs on 3 hits.

In the top of the first, Brookhaven took a 1-0 lead. GrantBurke’s ground to first scored Travis Keene who had reached on anwalk.

Natchez 9, Wesson 0

Tyler Morrison, a lanky southpaw, pitched a 2-hit shutout forthe Natchez all-stars. He struck out 10 batters, walked 2 andallowed 2 hits in 6 innings.

Morrison also led his team in bating with a homer and atriple.

Wesson starter Gib Britt absorbed the loss. In 2 innings thesouthpaw struck out 3 batters and walked 2 as Natchez took a 4-0lead.

Wesson got a first-inning double from Gage Wilson but he wasthrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Matt Smith alsodoubled.

Natchez advances to Saturday’s third round and plays the winnerof the Nationals-Americans game at 8 p.m.