Dixie Boys, Junior Boys still alive

Published 10:17 pm Monday, July 20, 2009

Both the Troy Dixie Boys tournament team and the Troy Junior Dixie Boys tournament team will play for state titles Tuesday, this after both teams won two elimination games Monday.

The Dixie Boys began the day by defeating Westside of Mobile 16-2 before going on to beat Saks 3-0.

“We just hit the ball real well this morning against Westside,” Troy head coach Britt Newman said. “The team was definitely pumped up. You could tell they were ready to play.”

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Brantley LeCroy, Taytom Barnes and Jalin Lawson combined to hold Westside to two runs.

“Brantley LeCroy did a great job for us in the game,” Newman said. “We brought in Taytom Barnes in relief and he did a great job as well. Jalin Lawson came in to close it out and he did a great job of shutting them down as well.”

Troy used another strong pitching performance in the win over Saks, this time from Josh Starling and Lawson Stewart.

“Josh Starling pitched a great game for us,” Newman said. “We brought Stewart in and he was able to close it out for us.”

The offense had to put in a workmanlike performance against Saks.

“We just had to manufacture runs out there,” Newman said. “We had to use a few base hits here and there and just get what we could.”

Troy will play either AUM-Montgomery or Selma Tuesday, but the time has not been determined.

Selma and AUM-Montgomery were playing Monday night at press time with Selma leading.

A win by Selma would leave all three teams with one loss each in four games played, meaning the three teams would draw for a bye Tuesday. The team that is awarded the bye will play the winner of a game between the two remaining teams at 11:30 a.m.

However, a win by AUM-Montgomery would eliminate Selma, meaning Troy would have to defeat AUM-Montgomery twice Tuesday to win the state title.

The Junior Dixie Boys’ scenario is much simpler, however.

The Junior Boys will play the winner of a game between Hueytown and Phenix City Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., with the winner of that game taking home the state title.

The Junior Boys won their first game Monday against Auburn 14-1. Chandler Avant had three hits and four runs scored, as Troy batted around in both of the first two innings.

Meanwhile, Blake Craft, John Johnson, Taylor Lord and Chase Smartt combined to throw a one-hitter against Auburn.

The win Monday morning sent Troy on to face Dothan Monday night.

The two teams were tied at 3 after six, sending the game into extra innings.

Troy was able to take a 6-3 lead in the top of the ninth and held Dothan scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.