BUDE – The Lincoln County Nationals continued their late inning heroics Thursday night as they rallied from behind in the top of the sixth inning to defeat the Walthall County All-Stars 9-6 in Dixie Youth 11-and-12-year-old District Six Tournament action at Leroy “Cowboy” Jones Memorial Field in Bude.

With the win, the Nationals will advance to play the Lincoln County Americans for the district championship. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. Friday.

On a special note, the Lincoln County National and American All-Stars, the Walthall County All-Stars and the Franklin County All-Stars will receive a berth to play in the State Tournament, which will begin July 17 in Mendenhall. The Dixie Youth Baseball committee called early Thursday morning to inform the Franklin County commissioner that it will be taking four teams instead of two teams due to the lack of teams participating in the North division.

Lincoln Co. Nationals 9, Walthall Co. 6 

The Lincoln County Nationals and the Walthall County All-Stars entered into the contest knowing that they had to win to keep their season alive to advance to the championship and receive a berth to the State Tournament.

In the first three innings of action, the Walthall County All-Stars overpowered the Nationals with their strong hitting attack and solid defensive pressure to secure an early 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Nationals managed to break through Walthall’s defensive pressure by getting their offense going. Nationals’ third baseman Colby Carwyle hit a big two-run home run to help his team cut into Walthall’s lead at 4-3.

In the bottom of the third and fourth inning, the Nationals’ defense stepped up and held Walthall scoreless by making some defensive plays to keep the score at 4-3.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Nationals came out swinging as the first two batters quickly got on base. Sam Smith and Fielder Sartin collected two big hits each to help the Nationals tie and take the lead from Walthall at 5-4.

With one out, the Nationals continued their offensive surge by collecting hits to load the bases. Cooper Moak’s big bat helped the Nationals increase their lead to 9-4 with a huge grand slam home run.

The All-Stars from Walthall County managed to get the final two outs after the home run to end the Nationals’ big offensive explosion.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the players from Walthall looked to answer Lincoln County’s challenge as they pushed two runs across the plate, but the Nationals’ defense quickly closed the door on Walthall by securing the final out to end the game.

Dylan Carter was the winning pitcher in relief with three strikeouts and one walk. Dylan Reeves (7K, 3BB) started the contest on the mound for the Nationals.

Trent Thames suffered the loss pitching for Walthall County with no strikeouts and three walks. K.J. Lampton (2K, 0BB) came in and collected the final two outs in the sixth inning.

Cooper Moak provided the offensive spark to lead the Nationals with a grand slam home run and a single. Colby Carwyle fueled the flames with a two-run home and a single. Reeves contributed a pair of doubles and a single. J.T. McCaffrey had a triple and a single. Carter provided two singles. Trace Brady, Fielder Sartin and Sam Smith ripped a double each. Hitting safely were Jon Albritton, Dawson Hester and Conner Hall.

Kyron Cowart and K.J Lampton were the top hitters at the plate for Walthall with a double and a single each. Dalan Hill and Dylan Davis provided two singles apiece. Tyler Phillips had a double. Matthew Downs, Trent Thames, Rodney James and Evan Buras hit safely.