The Dixie Youth League teams began their tournament season Friday after more than two weeks of practice and anticipation.

The Troy Americans were rained out Friday, the same way the rest of Troy's teams started the tournament season.

Their game against Luverne was pushed back to Saturday.

Although the Americans took a one-run lead over Luverne and held that until the fifth inning, it wouldn't be enough for the win.

Troy gave up three runs in the top of the fifth for the final 3-1 score.

Blake Hutchinson took the loss on the mound.

The Troy Americans will be back in Georgiana Tuesday night to play at 6 p.m.

The Troy Nationals opened Friday night in Elba with a convincing 11-0 victory over Brundidge.

Sam Carroll and Logan Stewart combined for nine strikeouts and a no-hitter.

Ross Hixon led the team at the plate with two hits.

Carroll, Ethan Register, Jayden Barnes and Stewart each had one hit.

That win set up the contest between Troy and Coffee County.

Although Troy took an early 1-0 lead and held on until the bottom of the fifth, the game was far from over.

Coffee County's clean-up batter did just as the name implies, hitting a homerun with one man on base to take a 2-1 lead over Troy.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hixon stepped to the plate with a single to get the first base runner on for Troy.

Will Starling followed with another single.

With time running out to take back control of the game, Carroll belted a homerun of his own to give Troy back the lead.

"The bats just didn't come alive until the end," head coach Billy Hixon said.

Troy posted a total of six hits in the sixth inning for the 6-2 victory over Coffee County.

Carroll, Hixon and Starling combined for 15 strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

Starling and Evan Strother led the team in hits with three apiece.

Hixon and Chase Connell had two hits.

Carroll, Register, Barnes and Alex White each had one hit.

"We've started the tournament off really good," Hixon said. "We're pitching real well, and we've had good defense."

The Troy Nationals will play Enterprise Tuesday night at 8 p.m.

Jennifer Lett can be reached at sports@troymessenger.com.