TAYLORSVILLE — The Brookhaven Dixie Boys Baseball League14-year-old all-stars are packing for the World Series. Brookhavencaptured the Dixie Boys 14s State Tournament Friday with a narrow4-3 win over the Carthage all-stars.

Brookhaven scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventhinning. Matt Magee led off with a double. Brett Rushing delivered agame-winning RBI single to break a 3-3 deadlock.

The Dixie Boys World Series begins Friday, Aug. 4, at GrandPrairie, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Opening ceremonies are at 6p.m.

Brookhaven will play the Louisiana team Saturday at 4 p.m.

Clutch defense, timely hitting and exceptional pitchingpropelled Brookhaven through the double-elimination statetournament undefeated.

“It was a great accomplishment,” said Brookhaven headcoach/manager Terry Britt. “There were some great teams in thetournament. Our kids played quite well.”

Britt said his players responded to everything the coaches askedthem to do. “They played steady the whole tournament and they wonevery ballgame. They played to their potential in all phases of thegame. We are very proud of them.”

Colton Laird was the winning pitcher in relief of Ryan Kennedywho went 3 innings. Laird fanned 1 batter, waked none and allowed 1run on 5 hits in 4 innings of relief.

Kennedy was tagged for 2 runs in the top of the first inning. Hestruck out 5 batters, walked 2, hit 1 batter and allowed 1 hit.

Carthage took a 2-0 lead on an RBI double by Mitch Wooten whoalso stole home on an error.

Brookhaven scored its first run in the second inning on an RBIsingle by Michael Martin who plated Zach Williams.

In the third, Magee was safe on an error. T.J. Floyd’s doubledrove Magee home for a 2-2 deadlock.

In the fifth, Rushing singled and scored on a fielder’s choiceby Williams, giving Brook a 3-2 lead. Rushing singled twice in thegame. Tyler Case singled.

Carthage gained a 3-3 tie in the sixth. Jake Frazier singled andJay Moore drove him home.

Brookhaven shut down Carthage in the seventh, turning a doubleplay. Magee threw out a runner at first base and Kennedy then threwa strike to Williams at home plate as he tagged out the Carthagerunner.

Carthage got a single and a double from Caleb Burns.