LAUREL — The Lincoln County Nationals finished third in the10-year-old Dixie Youth Baseball League South Regional TournamentWedneday night. The Nationals of Lincoln County drew a bad break inthe tournament, having to play two fresh teams on the same night.In the first game, Lincoln County battled to the very end, butLaurel managed to sneak by with a 13-12 win. In the final game, theNationals had a great effort but came up short losing to Pascagoula11-4.

“I totally disagree with the way we got treated having to playtwo fresh teams on the same night,” said Lincoln County Head CoachStan Winborne. “My guys was tired after the first game but theyplayed their very best and showed great sportsmanship through itall.”

Lincoln County Nationals still qualified for the Dixie YouthBaseball State Tournament in Hattiesburg starting July 24. TheNationals will be facing Cleveland West, the North No. 3 team, at 6p.m. on the Larry Doleac Youth Sports Complex field.

Laurel 13, Lincoln Co. 12

Tanner Waldrop provided a strong pitching performance butabsorbed the loss for Lincoln County, collecting two strikeouts andseven walks in relief. The starting pitcher, Tucker Watts, providedthree strikeouts and three walks.

Garrett Herring was the winning pitcher for Laurel’s Nationals,collecting one strikeout and allowing no walks. Patrick Little (3K, 5 BB) was the starting pitcher for Laurel.

Dillon Griffin produced the offensive power for Lincoln Countywith two doubles and a single. Dylan Winborne also contributed withthree singles. The other hitters were Ben Springfield, two singlesPeyton Smith, single; Dawson Zumbro, single; Keith Robinson, singleand Dalton Fortado, single.

“We played a great ballgame against Laurel,” continued Winborne.”Our guys fought hard but had a bad break at the end.”

Patrick Little was the leading batter for Laurel with threesingles. The other hitters were Dalton Morgan, two singles; DaltonCummins, double; Garrett Herring, single; Christian Carter, double;Evan Bynum, double; John Mitchell, single and Rassaad Pettis,single

Pascagoula 11, Nationals 4

Lincoln County struggled on the mound in the second game withTanner Waldrop (2 K, 1 BB) absorbing the loss in relief. TheNationals also used three other pitchers, beginning with starterBen Springfield (1 K, 2 BB). Dawson Zumbro (2 K, 2 BB) and PeytonSmith (0 K, 0 BB) also pitched.

Zarion Cole (3 K, 0 BB) was the winning pitcher forPascagoula.

Wyatt Brady was the leading batter for the Nationals with twosingles. Dillon Griffin and Cade Cangemi also contribute with adouble apiece. Dylan Winborne, Tucker Watts, Tanner Waldrop andPeyton Smith helped by providing a single apiece.

“My guys gave it their all but ran out of gas toward the end,”added Winborne.

Austin Beach was the offensive sparkplug for Pascagoula withthree singles and a triple. The other hitters were JeffreySossaman, triple; Zarion Cole, double; Landon Gordon, single;Andrew Holland, single; Billy Williamson, single; Jack Byrd, twosingles and Patrick Roth, triple.