The Troy Machine Pitch team defeated Fairhope 14-9 in comeback fashion on Monday night to claim the 2016 Dixie Youth Machine Pitch State Championship.

Fairhope defeated Troy in game one 10-9 forcing a deciding game two. Troy found themselves down by three runs heading into their final at bat of the game, but a nine running inning secured the championship.

“This is an exciting moment and it is one that I will never forget,” said Troy had coach Bobby Hussey. “As a coach I am very excited for these kids. That was the first thing that went through my mind when we made that last out.”

Troy battled an uphill climb all game long. Fairhope was able to score the game’s first six runs putting Troy in an early hole. Troy cut that deficit in half when they scored three runs in the third. Jackson Baggett, Kellen Stewart and Peyton Elliot all reached base and came around to score.

Fairhope battled back in there half of the third and scored two more runs to push their lead back out to 8-3 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth Troy got their offense going starting with Chase Vaznaian who reached on a double and came around to score to make it an 8-4 game. After Fairhope went scoreless in there half of the fourth Troy added one more when Elliot came around to score.

Troy entered their half of the sixth inning knowing they had one chance to score at least three runs to continue their dream of a championship.

“We told them that we worked all summer long and never give up,” Hussey said. “We told them to always give 100 percent and to play against your best. We knew it was going to take one hit at a time and that is what they gave us.”

In the inning Troy had a total of six hits and it began with singles by both Luke Barron and Dawson Bradford. After Troy was able to cut the deficit to 8-6 on a base hit by Vaznaian, Pugh walked to the plate and hit a two-run double to score both Ford Hussey and Vaznaian to even the score at 8. Stewart drove in Pugh on a fielder’s choice to give Troy the lead and they didn’t stop until they had 14 runs on the board.

In the bottom of the sixth Fairhope was able to scratch across a run. With a runner on base, Fairhope flied out to Luke Barron to end the game.

That catch by Barron wrapped up a well-played tournament defensively according to coach Hussey. It was their play that led the way to a championship.

“Our entire infield played outstanding when they had to,” Hussey said. “Our outfield came up really good against the top two teams that we played in the tournament.”

In game one Troy held a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but a late Fairhope surge led to a 10-9 win, forcing a deciding game two on Monday night.

Troy finished with 21 hits in game one. Luke Barron, Owen Pugh and Kellen Stewart all finished the game with three this. Dawson Bradford, Slade Russell, and Peyton Elliot all finished with two hits apiece.

Troy jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring the game’s first run in second inning when Elliot singled in Baggett.

After Fairhope scored one in the bottom of the second, Troy scored three in the third to take a three run lead. The big hit of the inning came off the bat of Russell, who hit a three-run home run to left field.

Things got away from Troy in the fourth inning. Fairhope was able to take a four run lead after they scored seven runs on seven hits.

Troy was able to get one run back in the fifth and got them into position to tie and take the lead in the sixth. After a weather delay in the sixth inning, Troy was able to secure a one-run lead when Elliot singled to center field to score Stewart to make the score 9-8.

Fairhope had their first four batters reach in the bottom of the sixth and score two runs to end the game.

Troy will now get set to head to the World Series in Laurel Mississippi on July 30.

“We are going to enjoy this for a couple of days,” Hussey said. “We are going to take a few days off and let them enjoy summer. We will get back at it heading into next week.”