On Friday night, McComb defeated Louisiana 3-2 to advance into the final day of the Dixie Youth World Series in LaGrange, Ga.
Zach Thomas drove in all three McComb runs. Thomas hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the first inning after Tag Gatlin was intentionally walked.
The 1-0 lead held until the fifth thanks to starter Steven Ginn retiring the first 12 hitters in order.
Louisiana scored two in the top of the fifth to take a one-run lead.
In the bottom of the inning with two outs, Sanders Ott and Ben Coney each singled and Louisiana chose to intentionally walk Gatlin to load the bases.
Thomas drove the first pitch back up the middle to score Ott and Coney and take back the lead.
Ginn allowed one hit in the top of the sixth, but got two groundouts after Louisiana had moved the runner to second with one out.
Ginn earned the complete game and earned the win. He allowed three hits and struck out eight.
North Carolina beat Troup County Friday to give the three remaining teams one loss each.
McComb and North Carolina had to draw for the berth into Saturday’s championship game.
“As soon as North Carolina beat Troup we had to immediately flip,” Gatlin said. “I headed to the pitcher’s mound and since we beat North Carolina I got to call and I called heads and it was heads.
“I turned around and did a fist pump to celebrate then the official said I had won so I get to draw out of the hat.
“The pieces of paper said play or bye and I drew bye. So we got lucky twice.”
