By Brad Greer

Heading into last weekend’s Dizzy Dean Summer Bash, the Batesville Bandit 10 year-old baseball team was the odds on favorite to take the title, but it was not as easy as it looked.

The Bandtis had to come from behind in both the semi-final and championship game Sunday afternoon to finish the tournament undefeated with a 4-0 record.

In the title game versus Grenada, Luke Noah’s two-run double followed by Tanner Hudson’s  RBI single keyed a four-run fifth inning to give Batesville a 9-6 victory. Noah also picked up the pitching win by tossing two innings in relief of Clayton Harris who went the first four innings on the mound.

The Bandits reached the final game with an 8-5 come-from-behind win over Water Valley thanks to a seven-run fourth inning. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Brandon Henson got the rally started with a leadoff triple then scored on a Justin Hudson double.

Eli Campbell and Tanner Hudson followed by reaching on walks before Ford Wilson’s infield single plated Hudson. Three batters later, Lige Simmerman gave Batesville the lead for good with a two-run single for the final margin of victory.

Reid Rushing pitched the final three innings in relief of Henson to record the victory on the mound. Campbell doubled and Peyton Harris singled to round out the hit parade.

Rushing led an 11-hit Batesville attack against Grenada with three singles. Simmerman followed with a pair of singles while Henson added a triple and single. Noah supplied a two-run double in the fifth while Harris, Tanner Hudson and Wilson registered singles.

Batesville had little trouble in pool play Friday night with a 15-0 blanking of Senatobia followed by a 12-4 thumping of Water Valley. Dalton Barefoot doubled twice and singled in the drubbing over Senatobia.

The Bandits will now take part in the North State tournament beginning July 6 in Grenada.