The McComb National 9-year-old all-stars used a 5-run third inning to break a 3-3 tie en route to a 14-5, subdistrict-clinching win over Pine Hills on Saturday in Magnolia.
The big blow in the inning came on a Marquis McNeil 3-run home run that scored Dalton East and Austin Fortenberry. McNeil later picked up a double.
McComb added two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Pine Hills picked up two runs in the sixth to round out the scoring.
Ian Stephens picked up the win on the mound, and Kran Howell pitched the last two innings in relief.
East led McComb with a 4-for-4 night at the plate, notching a single with each appearance. Howell followed with three singles, and Fortenberry added a single and double.
Matai Barnes Garcia and Park Esch added doubles, while Cody Scott, Maguire Givens, Kareen Jordan, Taylor Boyd and Daniel Bailey picked up singles.
The championship qualifies McComb National for the south state tournament in Laurel that begins on July 16.
The team begins a 3-game series with Brookhaven on Monday to determine seeding for the south state tournament.
The first game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Monday in Brookhaven, and the second game will be played at 6 p.m. in McComb on Tuesday.
McComb National 13, McComb American 1
McComb National reached Saturday’s deciding game with a 13-1 win over McComb American on Friday.
McComb National jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and allowed only one run the rest of the way.
Fortenberry led McComb National with a triple and inside-the-park home run. McNeil, Stephens and Bailey added doubles.
Howell, Scott and Esch finished with two singles apiece. East and Givens notched singles as well.
