By Brad Greer

The Batesville 9-year-old All Stars finished with an even 2-2 record last weekend at the Dizzy Dean Summer Bash held a J. P. Hudson Field.

Batesville opened pool play with a 14-4 romp over Water Valley, but then fall 7-3 to Senatobia in the nightcap of Thursday’s action. Batesville would  square off against Senatobia Sunday afternoon in the championship game only to drop an 18-13 verdict.

Senatobia jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and led 13-3 going into the third.

Batesville defense dug deep and held Senatobia to three runs in the fourth and cut the lead 14-11 by scoring six runs in the fourth.

A scoreless fifth inning by Batesville hurt as Senatobia scored four more runs. Batesville held Senatobia, who led 14-11, scoreless in the sixth inning and worked hard to tie the game. However, Senatobia allowed Batesville two runs in bottom of the sixth but a strikeout for the third out snuffed out any chances.

Batesville used three pitchers in the game. Denver Brown got the starting nod and pitched one and one-third inning. Nathan Walls pitched in relief for two and two-third innings. Closer for the Red Wasps was Luke Weldon who struck out four of the six batters he faced.

Batesville reached the title game with a 12-4 win over Oxford Saturday night. Walls led Batesville at the plate with three singles  while Zack Dugger added a two-run single in a seven-run first inning. Josh Johnson followed with a pair of singles while Dawson Griffin, Brandon Phelps, Brown and Walt Miller provided singles.Brown struck out eight over three innings work to record the win on the mound.

Batesville got the tournament off to an impressive start with an easy win over Water Valley that lasted only two innings. The home team scored seven runs in each inning while taking advantage of 12 walks by Water Valley pitching. Johnson collected half of Batesville’s hits with a pair of singles while Trace Anderson’s bases loaded double in the second proved to be the big blow of the contest. Walls and Brown tossed one inning each on the hill.

Senatobia plated five runs in the top of the first in their victory over Batesville in first meeting Friday night. Cameron Boyd led off the game with a triple followed by singles by Bo Young and Gavin McArthur. Wesley Weeks and Chris Gaines provided run-scoring singles later in the inning.

Batesville scored their only in the fourth inning on RBI singles from Phillips and Dugger. Gage Hollister atoned for Batesville’s only other hit with a single. Weldon suffered the pitching loss.