Needing a pair of wins to have a chance to advance to bracket play at the Dixie Coach Pitch (8U) Regional World Series on Sunday, the Center All-Stars couldn't get on track defensively, dropping a pair of games to fall from play in Cleveland Mississippi.
After a 1-2 record on the tournament's first day of pool play on Saturday, the Center All-Stars fell to Linden, Texas, 9-5, and Clarksdale, Miss., 7-6 on the final day of pool action.
"We just couldn't get it done defensively," said Center All-Star coach Ward Herndon. "All year long defense was the key for us because we were new to coach pitch. Our bats were there pretty much for us, but we just had a lot of errors that cost us."
Linden, Tx. 9, Center 5 -- Center pounded out 11 hits in its first game on Sunday in a 9-5 setback to Linden. The top three batters in the lineup - Dakota Beckham, Jayden Hicks and Tyler Herndon - all went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
Zach Smith and Jase Bird both added hits (1-for-2) and a run, while Gary Smith, Aiden Hagler and Luis Gonzalez each posted 1-for-2 games at the dish.
Also contributing in the contest were Gage Thompson, Corey Denney, Daniel Solis and Cale Henson.
Linden led 4-1 after the second frame. Bird crossed the plate for Center as the 'Riders kept the game close.
After Linden pushed in two runs in the third to extend its lead to 6-1, Center added four runs to its total in the fourth inning to pull to within 6-5. Beckham, Hicks, Herndon and Smith all crossed the plate before the third out was called.
But the Linden defense stiffened and Center's opponent added three insurance runs in the fifth to pull away.
Clarksdale, Miss. 7, Center 6 -- The Roughriders scored six runs in their final on Sunday night, but couldn't get past Clarksdale, Miss., falling 7-6.
Zach Smith, along with Hagler, bird, Gary Smith and Denney each had perfect 2-for-2 efforts at the plate, scoring one run apiece. Beckham went 2-for-3, while Hicks (1-for-3), Herndon (1-for-3), Solis (1-for-2) and Henson (1-for-2) each added one hit. Gonzalez also played for Center.
Clarksdale went ahead 2-0 in the first frame, but Zach Smith, Hagler, Gary Smith and Denney put the 'Riders ahead 5-2 when they all crossed the plate in the second inning.
Thompson scored for Center in the fourth, but Clarksdale was able to score three times pull within 6-5. Clarksdale then went ahead for good with two runs in the fifth frame.
Ward Herndon said the Center coaching staff and players were appreciative of the more than 40 parents and family members who attended the tournament to support the players.
"The fans were great," the coach stated. "We had great support and the players had a great experience of playing in tournament like this. They'll use this in the future and gain so much from just being here and playing in these conditions.
"A lot of the teams we faced play together from January through October, but our kids did a great job and really played hard. They deserve a lot of credit."
Dixie AA Coach Pitch World Series
(at Bear Pen Park, Cleveland, Miss.)
SATURDAY, JULY 30
Pool Play
Haughton, La. 12, Center, Tx. 4
Raleigh, Miss. 6, Center, Tx. 0
Center, Tx. 8, Cleveland, Miss. 1
SUNDAY, JULY 31
Pool Play
Linden, Tx. 9, Center, Tx. 5
Clarksdale, Miss. 7, Center 6
(Center eliminated after pool play)