T-Ball State: Panola captures back-to-back titles
show off their Dixie T-Ball State Championship flag, the team's second state title
in as many years. (Contributed Photo)
Despite being six years old, the Panola County National All-Stars don't just rely on their offense to win games. But a 51-run, 78-hit attack in a three-game series didn't hurt either.
Looking to defend their state title from a year ago, Panola County National used tough defense and 18 extra-base hits this past weekend as the 'Dogs took two out of three games from Mount Pleasant to win the 2011 Dixie T-Ball State Championship Saturday in Spring Hill.
The Bulldogs won Game 1 on Friday evening, 15-7, behind a 22-hit performance, which was highlighted by a pair of doubles by third baseman Fat Fat Roquemore and a 3-for-3 performances by Colby Davidson and Alex Tyner.
Needing just one win on Saturday, the Bulldogs started slow Saturday morning as they fell 16-14. But Panola rallied in the final game to blast 28 hits, including seven doubles and 4-for-4 efforts by Connor Cuff and Bo Hammons in a convincing 22-17 triumph to claim the title.
"We usually don't play well in the mornings and that was the case in the second game of the series," said Panola National assistant coach Justin Curry. "We figured we'd be stronger in that second game and the kids really did a great job.
"For six year-olds, these kids really know their baseball and it's great to see them repeat as state champions. We, as coaches, believe that offense will win you games, but defense wins championships; and that was the key to the success of this team.
"Defense brought us to 'the dance' and that's what we danced with. Every time we won the coin toss we also chose to be visitors so we could play defense first and we did that again this year and it paid off."
Curry said the philosophy of head coach Calvin Wilson and his staff of Curry, Randall Cuff and Bradley Davidson is simple: put pressure on the opponents with runs early and then bolster the advantage with tough defense in the bottom of the first to put their opponents on their heels.
"We even had one coach ask us if we wanted to re-think taking visitors when we won a coin toss once," Curry stated. "Our view is if you can put seven runs on them in the first and then take the field and put a quick three outs on them, you can pretty much figure the game is over."
That philosophy for Wilson and his team has worked. The Bulldogs have been quick starters and steady defensive performers as they captured a tough South State Championship Tournament in Center last week before taking the series for 'all the marbles' against Mount Pleasant.
Several Panola County National players had a blistering series against Mount Pleasant at the plate. Logan Presley was a perfect 8-for-8 with a double and five runs scored, while Alex Tyner was 9-for-10 with a pair of doubles and four runs.
Cuff posted an 8-for-10 effort with three doubles and seven runs, Roquemore went 8-for-10 with a home run, three doubles and five runs, Thomas Weidner posted an 8-for-9 linescore with five runs and Colby Davidson (7-for-10, 2 doubles, 4 runs) and Bo Hammons (7-for-10, double, 5 runs) were also leading the way offensively.
Here's a rundown of the series with Mount Pleasant:
Panola County National 15, Mount Pleasant 7 -- The Panola County Nationals put pressure on Mount Pleasant early, scoring seven runs in the top of the first and then held their opponents to just three runs in the bottom of the frame to cruise to a 15-7 win in the opener Friday night.
Panola finished with 22 hits, including six doubles. Colby Davidson was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Tyner added a double and a 3-for-3 effort at the dish, scoring a run.
Other Bulldogs picking up multiple hits included Cuff (2-for-3, double, 3 runs), Roquemore (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs), Jayden Cockerham (2-for-3, 2 runs), Weidner (2-for-3, run), Cole Curry (2-for-3, double, 2 runs) and Logan Presley (2-for-2).
Also contributing hits were Daxton Etheridge (1-for-3, run), Hamons (1-for-3, run), Lane Wilson (1-for-2) and Mason Smith (1-for-2).
Mount Pleasant 16, Panola County national 14 -- Mount Pleasant tied the best-of-three series at 1-1 on Saturday morning by staying close early and then forging ahead for a 16-14 victory.
Despite the setback, Panola still recorded 28 hits, including four doubles and a home run. Roquemore punched the round-tripper, added a double and finished 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Also having a perfect game at the plate was Tyner, who went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, Etheridge, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a run, Weidner, who posted a 3-for-3 effort with two runs, and Presley, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs.
Hammons went 2-for-3, Cuff, Curry, Wilson and Davidson each went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Smith was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Cockerham also recorded a single.
Panola County National 22, Mount Pleasant 17 -- Another 28-hit attack was too much for Mount Pleasant in the finale as Cuff went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs and Hammons was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and four runs in a convincing 22-17 verdict.
Weidner went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs and Presley was perfect with a 3-for-3 effort and three runs scored for Panola. Tyner went 3-for-4 with a run, Roquemore doubled, scored two times and finished 3-for-4, Smith went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, Wilson doubled, scored twice and finished 2-for-3 and Davidson went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
Recording at least one hit was Etheridge (1-for-4, run) and Cockerham (1-for-3, run). Curry also contributed to the deciding victory.
Panola County had its offense in high gear, scoring five runs in the first, second, fourth and fifth frames, while shutting out Mt. Pleasant in the final inning to seal the victory with its tough defense.
This story will appear in the Panola Watchman.