The Lincoln County Nationals captured the Dixie Youth Baseball7-8 year old North Subdistrict 6 Baseball Tournament championshipSaturday afternoon, with an 11-7 win over the Natchez All-Stars atKeystone Field.

With the win, the Nationals advanced to the District 6best-of-three tournament series Monday night at 6:30, againstMcComb. Game site to be determined.

Natchez eliminated Copiah 9-8 Friday night.

“We dropped the first game,” said the Nationals coaching staff intheir post-game meeting with their ballclub. “Then you came back towin it all.” The Nationals are under the direction of AugustFortado, Landon Britt, Lee Zumbro and Jeff Emfinger.

The Nationals opened the scoring in the top half of the first,taking a 7-0 lead. Crossing home plate were James Beard, DawsonZumbro, Cade Hodges, Price King, Logan Emfinger, Tanner Waldrop andDalton Fortado.

The Natchez All-Stars responded with a pair of runs in the bottomof the first. Jacob Wilson singled and later scored on an RBItriple by Joshua Day. Day would score on a Nationals fieldingerror.

Lincoln County extended its lead to 9-2 in the second. Beard andHodges scored. Hodges’ double plated Beard. Emfinger’s base hitscored Hodges.

Natchez, coached by Josh Hargon, David Daye, David Lindsey and ToddFielder, scored 3 runs in the third; trimming their deficit to 9-5.Runs were scored by Dee Batieste, Jacob Wilson and Joshua Day.

After a 90-minute rain delay, Lincoln County added 2 insurance runsin the top of the sixth. Tucker Watts and Tanner Waldropscored.

Natchez got run support from Day and Landon Havard in the sixth.Cole Switzer grounded out to second to end the game.

Collecting hits for Lincoln County were Beard (2), Emfinger (3),Tucker Watts, Waldrop, Fortado, Collin Britt (2), Dylan Case andDylan Smith. Hodges and Waldrop each doubled. Price Kingtripled.

Natchez 9, Copiah 8

Copiah got a triple from Jay Smith and Joseph Bower. GarrettJohnson doubled. Alex Walker, Rhett Mattingly, Will Smith, LeviBrand and Ladarius Smith singled.

Natchez was led by Dee Batieste who singled twice.