SCOTTSBORO – The Hartselle Dixie Boys (14) all-stars were knocked from the state tournament with a 9-8 loss to Troy.
Hartselle opened the tournament with a 5-0 loss to Phenix City, one of the state’s top teams from a year earlier.
“It was a wonderful experience that our players won’t forget until they can achieve bigger things in their future,” said Hartselle head coach Jeff Howard. “It’s small consolation but this group has lost to the state champion in three of its four appearances, the state runner-up in the other and two Dixie World Series Champs over this stretch.
“Phenix City was very deserving, had good players, fans and coaches. We hope they represent Alabama well at the 2010 World Series and win it…that would make three then.”
After an early rainout, Hartselle was put into a position where they had to play two games on Sunday..
In the loss to Phenix City, Alston Howard, Dakota Youngblood, Tanner Evans and Jorden Robinson worked on the mound.
Phenix City scattered five Hartselle hits with Riley Wiggins leading the way with two hits. Tanner Oakes, Danny Conley and Alston Howard added hits for Hartselle.
Phenix City went on to beat Troy to earn a trip to the World Series.
In Hartselle’s second game, Troy – the defending state and World Series champions – rallied to beat the Tigers 9-8 in extra innings.
Hartselle, behind the pitching of Brady Wallace and Dakota Youngblood, came from three runs down in the top of seventh inning to tie the game on a Nick Hillman hit.
Troy earned the win in the bottom of the eighth on a bouncing single up the middle.
“Normally we can make a double play on that ball. That’s just baseball.”
Hartselle got to four Troy pitchers getting 12 hits but left seven runners on base.
“It seemed like we couldn’t get the big hit when it was needed,” Howard said.
Hartselle’s Tanner Oakes, Connor Shelton and Nick Hillman had two hits each in the loss. Danny Conley, Riley Wiggins and Adam Keenum added hits for Hartselle.