BUDE – The Lincoln County Nationals defeated the Franklin County All-Stars 5-4 to keep their season alive and advance to the championship game on Thursday.

In the nightcap, the Lincoln County Americans suffered their first loss of the tournament falling to the Walthall All-Stars in an offensive 11-10 marathon in Dixie Youth 11-and-12-year-old District Six Tournament action at Leroy “Cowboy” Jones Memorial Field in Bude.

The tournament continues Wednesday as the Lincoln County Americans tangle with Walthall All-Stars in a rematch contest, starting at 6 p.m. The Nationals will receive a bye and wait to play the Americans or Walthall on Thursday night.

In case of a three-way tie, the teams with just one loss each, the Americans and Walthall, will flip a coin to decide who will face the Nationals at 6 p.m. and the winner of the coin toss will play at 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln Co. National 5, Franklin Co. 4 

     The Nationals escaped elimination Tuesday night to advance to the championship on a huge grand slam home run swing from Colby Carwyle in the sixth inning with two outs.

Dylan Carter was the winning pitcher on the mound Nationals with 12 strikeouts and no walks.

J.T. McCaffrey helped the Nationals’ offense at the plate with two singles. Hitting safely were Jon Albritton, Sam Smith, Cooper Moak and Trace Brady.

Walthall 11, Lincoln Co. Americans 10 

The Lincoln County Americans lost in extra innings to the Walthall All-Stars in an exciting offensive marathon in the final game of the night.

The Americans pitched Colin Waldrop for three innings. Matthew Burns threw four innings in relief.

Tyler Fortenberry powered the Americans at the plate with two home runs. Fortenberry’s second home run came in the top of the seventh inning to give the Americans a 10-9 lead.

Ty Webb and Matthew Burns contributed a double and single each. Burns’ double in the top of the sixth helped the Americans tied the contest 9-9 to force extra innings. Pike Wallace, Jacob Smith, Jackson Carter and Jonah Smith hit safely.