LAUREL — The Lincoln County National League 10-year oldall-stars have qualified for the Dixie Youth Baseball StateChampionship Tournament in Hattiesburg, which starts July24th.

The Nationals came out of the gates on fire Tuesday night, beatingPascagoula 13-7 in the Dixie Youth South Regional Tournament.

“We played a very good game,” said Lincoln County head coach StanWinborne. “We hit the ball and pitched really well. We had 19 hitsfor the night, our best this season.”

The Nationals plays Laurel tonight at 6 p.m. in the championshipgame at the Laurel Sports Complex. If Lincoln County wins againstLaurel, they will play again following the first game. If theNationals lose, they will face Pascagoula once again tonight tobattle for second place. The top three teams advance to the statetournament.

Laurel beat Lawrence County 17-4 last night.

Nationals 13, Pascagoula 7

Dylan Winborne produced a strong pitching performance for theNationals, collecting three strikeouts and giving up two walks.Tanner Waldrop also contributed with two strikeouts and one walk inpitching relief.

Jeffrey Sossaman absorbed the loss for Pascagoula providing onestrikeout and three walks.

Tucker Watts ignited the offensive explosion for the Nationals witha double and two singles. Ben Springfield also added to the flameswith three singles.

Winborne continued to fuel the bats with a double and a single.Other hitters also provided their offensive onslaught with PeytonSmith, Wyatt Brady, Keith Robinson and Tanner Waldrop eachcollecting two singles apiece. Dawson Zumbro hit a double. CadeCangemi and Dillon Griffin receive a single apiece.

“I am very proud of the guys for bouncing back from the tough lossto Laurel from the day before,” said Winborne.

His team took some extra practice in the hotel parking lot andlater made a trip to Hattiesburg where they used the Southern Misspractice facility for batting practice.

Jeffrey Sossaman was the leading batter for Pascagoula with atriple and a double. The other hitters were Austin Beach, double;Landon Gordon, two singles. Andrew Holland, Jackson Byrd and ZarionCole singled.