MAGEE – The Lincoln County American League All-Stars cleared their first two hurdles in the Dixie Youth Baseball AAA State Tournament, beating Wayne County 7-4 Friday night on Popeye’s Field.

     The Lincoln Countians edged Iuka 1-0 Saturday night. Lawrence County played Magee at 8 p.m. Lincoln County resumes play today at 4 p.m., meeting the winner of the Corinth-Clarksdale game.

     Win or lose today, the Americans play again Monday in the double-elimination tournament.

     In other opening round games, Iuka beat Moss Point 7-2, Clarksdale dumped McComb 8-4, Corinth edged St. Martin 5-4, Purvis mauled M3ndenhall 15-3, Kosciusko downed  the Hattiesburg Americans 8-4, Lawrence County sacked Philadelphia 6-2 and Magee stopped Cleveland East 10-6.

     “We are not hitting as well as I would like us to but I will take the win,” said Fortenberry. “Both teams had pretty good pitching.”

AL 1, Iuka 0

     “It was a nail-biter,” said Fortenberry. The tying run was tagged out at home plate in the bottom of the sixth on a passed ball. Catcher Jermario Hersey scooped up the ball and threw it to pitcher Trevor Fortenberry who made the tag.

     Fortenberry pitched the win, giving up 3 hits in 6 innings. He walked 2 batters and struck out 12.

     The Americans finished with 6 hits, all singles. Fortenberry, Jacob Smith, Piker Wallace, Dylan Reeves, Jackson Carter and Gage Brown singled.

     “Iuka had two good pitchers,” said Fortenberry.

     Carter scored the winning run on a throwing error. Carter raced to third base and Brown delivered the winning RBI hit.

 AL 7, Wayne Co. 4

     Dylan Carter won the opener. In 4 innings, he gave up 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 7.

     Hersey (3K, 0BB) pitched 2 innings of relief and allowed no hits.

     The winners collected 7 hits. Jackson Carter singled twice. Fortenberry, Brown and Piker Ratliff doubled. Jonah Smith and Dylan Carter singled.

      Wayne County got singles from Wade Stokeley and Cade Stennett.

     The Americans took a 1-0 in the first. They added 3 runs in the fourth and 3 more in the fifth.