Coming out of the loser’s bracket, the Brookhaven Americans kepttheir Dixie Youth Baseball Major League North SubdistrictTournament title hopes alive with a hard-fought 5-4 win over theNatchez All-Stars in 10 innings, at Keystone Field Mondaynight.

A single game, with the winner claiming the tournament title, isset to begin at 6 p.m. tonight.

In the South Subdistrict Six Tournament at Gloster, unbeatenMcComb meets host Pine Hills at 6 tonight in the finals. Thebest-of-three district tournament is scheduled to begin Thursday atthe site of the South champion.

Brook Americans 5, Natchez 4

“Both teams played extremely well tonight,” said Americans headcoach Robbie Keene. “This game could have gone either way.”

Natchez, coached by Billy Calcote, drew first blood in the tophalf of the second for a 1-0 lead. With 1 out, Adam Kaiser doubled.He would later score on a throwing error by the Americans.

Brookhaven claimed the lead at 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth,aided by a pair of Natchez miscues. Aaron Durr bunted for aninfield single. Hunter Fauver singled. A throwing error by Natchezallowed Tyler Case to reach first; while Durr scored. Travis Keenereached on a fielding error, allowing Fauver to cross home plate.Two batters later, Grant Burke went to first to load the bases; asa pitch hit him. Dustin Treadway’s sacrifice fly to center scoredCase.

Natchez tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, as Brookhavencommitted 3 errors in the inning. Shilo Atkins singled. GivonniDent reached on a fielding error that scored Atkins. Dent laterscored on a pair of miscues by Brookhaven.

Natchez charged to a 4-3 in the seventh. With 1 out, JamesMoffett walked. Two batters later, Garrett Smith’s single scoredMoffett.

The Americans dialed long distance in the bottom of the seventhfor a 4-4 deadlock. Bubba Keene drilled a solo homer over the leftfield fence on the first pitch.

Both teams went back and forth throughout the 2-hour, 35-minutemarathon. The 2 teams combined for 30 strikeouts and 8 bases-on-balls, using 3 pitchers apiece. The Americans left 11 runners onbase and Natchez standed 10.

Keene’s ballclub would score the game-winner in the bottom ofthe tenth. With no outs, Bubba Keene reached on a Natchez fieldingerror. Burke doubled. Treadway walked on 4 straight pitches. Keenewould score on a wild pitch, which ignited a jubilant celebrationfrom the American dugout.

“Bubba pitched a good game tonight,” said Keene. “He battledhard all night.”

Keene had no decision, fanning 10 Natchez batters in the first 6innings. Burke got the win, giving up no runs, 2 hits, a walk and 1strikeout in the final 1.2 innings. Travis Sorrels worked 1.1innings.

Dent suffered the loss for Natchez in the last 2 innings,allowing the game-winner, on 2 hits with a walk and 2 strikeouts.Tyler Morrison started the game, going 6 innings. Brandon Sanderstossed the seventh and eighth innings.

Burke aided his cause at the plate with a single and a double.Cade McCullough and Durr each singled twice. Case, Cody Beeson andFauver each singled.

Garrett Smith paced Natchez with 2 singles.

“Natchez has a good hitting ballclub,” added Coach Keene.