The McComb Dixie Youth 12-year-old American League All-Stars are hanging on in O-Zone state tournament in Kosciusko.
Coached by Jason Cooksey, the boys defeated host-team Kosciusko 4-1 Saturday after a rainout Friday.
Cooksey said a great pitching outing from Preston Alexander, who went scoreless in three innings at the mound, Braydon Coffey and Aaron Artigues helped reel in the win, as well as an early home run by Shawn Williams to bring in two runs.
“It was an all-around team effort,” Cooksey said. “We didn’t swing bats as well as should have, but we played hard and got a win.”
McComb’s AL team made it to the O-Zone tournament after a win over the McComb National League earlier this season.
The tournament is slightly different from the Major tournament, in which the NL is playing this weekend, with 70-foot stretches between the bases instead of 60, more distance between the pitcher and home plate and a deeper field. Players are also allowed to steal bases in the O-Zone tournament.
The McComb AL squad played a second game at 9 p.m. Saturday against Carthage, which ended after publication deadline.
Regardless of the outcome of the second game, the team will play again today in the double-elimination tournament.
