TUSCUMBIA – Coach Gary Fox didn’t mince words in his post-game talk with the Troy Dixie Pre-Majors Friday afternoon.

“That game was no fun,” he told the team. “But you guys have been playing baseball long enough to know that’s not the way we play baseball.”

The Dixie Pre-Majors lost 22-6 to East Montgomery in an elimination game in the state tournament.

“I’m going to step right up and take full responsibility,” Fox said. “I attribute that loss to a lack of preparation. We didn’t practice; we weren’t prepared. And it’s my responsibility to get the team together and practice.”

Fox said the team came together late in the regular season, played a short season and then didn’t practice between the district and state tournaments.

“We were not prepared. We didn’t make critical plays and we didn’t hit,” he said. “You can’t expect to show up and play and win if you haven’t practiced.”

He also urged the team to view the game as a life lesson about the importance of preparation. “No matter what you do in life, you need to be prepared,” he said.

Getting hits in the game for Troy were Cole Wilson, two singles and two RBIs; Nathan Fox, a single and one RBI; Connor Wood, a single and one RBI; Justin Helms, a double; and Blake Craft, a single.

Wilson, Nathan Fox and Craft pitched for Troy.