BUDE – Lincoln County all-star baseball teams battled to the endSaturday night at Leroy “Cowboy” Jones Memorial Field in thechampionship finals of the Dixie Youth Baseball AAA 10s NorthSubdistrict Six Tournament. The Americans beat the Nationals 12-2in the opener to force a second game that saw the Nationalsprevailing 8-6 over their rivals.

The Nationals will face Walthall County in a best-of-three DistrictSix series, starting Thursday night at Keystone Park. Game time is6:30.

The second game will be played Friday at Walthall County atTylertown, also at 6:30. Both teams will advance to South State inLaurel.

“The first game was non eventful for us,” said National Leaguemanager Stan Winborne. “We had a pitching duel in thenightcap.”

“We were facing the toughest pitcher in the land in Cade Hodges butour kids stood up to him and hit the ball. Our team was able tofocus and peck out a few hits in key places.”

Americans 12, Nationals 2

Winning pitcher Marquis Bridges went the distance for theAmericans, allowing three hits, striking out four and walking onein four innings.

The losing pitcher was Tucker Watts (3 K, 4 BB) who started andwent two innings. He gave up eight hits and 10 runs.

Dawson Zumbro (3 K, 2 BB) replaced Watts and finished the game. Heallowed one hit and gave up two runs.

Leading the Americans’ attack was third baseman Tucker Lambert whotripled and homered. First baseman Kylar Fielder went 3-for-3. LukeBurns, Johnny Bowman, Cody Smith and Bridges singled.

The Nationals got a double from Dylan Winborne and Peyton Smith.Tanner Waldrop singled.

Nationals 8, Americans 6

Dylan Winborne pitched the 6-inning victory. He struck out fivebatters and walked three, allowing five hits and one earnedrun.

Cade Hodges was the losing pitcher. In six innings, he fanned eightbatters, walked three and gave up 11 hits and five earnedruns.

At the plate, Watts singled and doubled. Winborne went 2-for-3 withtwo singles. Zumbro singled twice. Peyton Smith, Cade Cangemi,Keith Robinson, Wyatt Brady and Dalton Fortado singled.

In the fifth, Fortado delivered a clutch, RBI bunt to give theNationals a 4-3 lead. Three more runs scored in the rally.

“That bunt was real big,” said Stan Winborne. “That gave us thelead and lifted our spirits.

“Hats off to the Americans. They have a very good team.”

The Americans, managed by Cameron Fielder, finished with five hits.Taylor Freeny doubled. Cody Smith, Hodges, Fielder and Burnssingled.