T-Ball State: 'Riders move into 'final four'
of a catch by a Palestine National defender during action at the Dixie T-Ball
South Regional State Tournament in Center. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER, Tx -- A walk-off single by Center's Tuff Beckham drove in Braxton Riley Tuesday evening as the Center T-Ball All-Stars concluded a wild game with Palestine National in a come-from-behind victory that kept the Roughriders in the hunt for the South Regional State Tournament championship here at Center Noon Lions Park.
The emotional victory, which included a protest of a call and numerous stops in the action as officials discussed calls, gave Center its third straight win and moves Center in the 'final four' for the right South Regional title and the right to place the North Regional winner for the overall state championship next weekend.
The Roughriders topped Hudson National, 14-5, on Monday for the team's second straight win after a first-round defeat. Other Monday results in the double-elimination tourney included: East Montgomery County American 20, Palestine American 11; Palestine National 32, Dayton 24; Panola County National 15, Diboll White 5. EMC National received a bye on Monday.
In other games Tuesday, East Montgomery County National handed Panola County National its first loss and EMC National became the last unbeaten team in the tourney with a 19-10 win. EMC American eliminated Diboll White, 24-16.
In games on Wednesday, Panola County National will take on EMC American in an elimination game at 5:30 p.m. Center must knocked off unbeaten EMC National at 7 p.m. to move into the championship round on Thursday.
Center had to use a late surge in both of its wins on Monday and Tuesday to stay alive for the title. The Roughriders scored six runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth to knock off Hudson National on Monday, 14-5.
The 'Riders belted eight extra-base hits in the win, including a home run by Mason Perry, a triple and a double by Jamorian Evans and a pair of doubles by Bobby Hendricks. Peyton McBride, Sental Chambers and Ryan Jones each slammed doubles as Center recorded 22 hits in the win. The Hornets were held to just 10 hits.
Nine of Center's 12 players produced multiple-hit games. Hendricks went 3-for-3, scoring two runs and driving in two more, Jessie Snider went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored and Evans was 2-for-2, pushing in a pair of runs and scoring another.
McBride produced a 2-for-3 effort at the plate; Tuff Beckham went 2-for-3 with two runs scored; Kedrin Henson had two hits and two runs; Chambers had a 2-for-3 effort with two RBIs and a run scored; Jones picked up two runs in three at-bats, while scoring twice; Perry homered and singled, while scoring twice and pushing in two runs.
Braxton Riley singled and Johnathon Flores both singled for Center, while Connor Henson contributed to the victory.
Center scored a pair of runs in the first frame with Beckham and Hinson crossing the plate. Hudson came right back to pull to within 2-1 in the bottom of the frame.
The Hornets continued to push runs across, scoring one in the second and three more in the fourth.
Meanwhile, the 'Riders used a six run fourth to take a 8-2 lead. Seven Center players recorded hits and Hendricks, Jones, Sniders, Perry, Flores and Evans all plated to give Center some breathing room.
After three Hudson runs in the bottom of the frame Center iced the game with six more runs on seven hits in the fifth.
Dixie T-Ball (6U) State Tournament
(at Center Noon Lions Park, Center, Tx.)
MONDAY, JULY 18
Gm 15: EMC American 20, Palestine American 11
Gm 13: Center 14, Hudson National 5
Gm 14: Palestine National 32, Dayton 24
Gm 16: Panola County National 15 Diboll White 5
Note: East Montgomery County Nat. had a BYE
TUESDAY, JULY 19
Gm 18: EMC American 24, Diboll White 16
Gm 17: Center 21, Palestine National 20
Gm 19: EMC National 19, Panola County National 10
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20
Gm 20: Panola County National vs. EMC American, 5:30 p.m.
Gm 21: EMC National vs. Center, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 21
Championship Round
Gm 22: Winner Gm 21 vs. Winner Gm 20, 5 p.m.
Gm 23: (If necessary)