Sports Editor

Having to play one day later because of a rain cancellation didn’t faze the Troy Dixie Minor National team as they beat-up on Luverne 10-4 in the opening round of sub-district play at Georgiana.

Thundershowers throughout south Alabama cancelled the tournament’s start last Friday and on Saturday Will Starling went the complete six innings, striking out 11 and giving up just three hits to Luverne. Starling had pitched a four-inning shutout when Luverne broke through with three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth.

Troy gave Starling plenty of support at the plate, driving in five runs in the first inning alone and totalling 15 hits during the game.

Troy got contributions from the top of the lineup to the bottom.

Starling led the team, going 3-for-3 hitting. Ross Hixon, Nathan Barron and Daniel Floyd each added two hits also. Sam Carroll, Ben McKeller, Chase Connell, Lloyd Shillabeer, Jayden Barnes and Chance Shaver also had hits for Troy.

For Luverne, M. D’arville had

single and double. J. Sexton added a single.

Troy Americans 8

Geneva 4

Blake Hutchinson pitched five innings for Troy, holding the host-Geneva team to only two hits and striking out nine batters in an 8-4 win on Saturday night.

Troy moved on to face the Enterprise Americans late Monday night.

Hutchinson, one of only two 9-year-olds on the Troy team, also chipped in a two-run double in the top of the fourth. Troy had 10 hits in the game with Geneva scoring two earned runs and two on error.

Troy scored five runs in the first inning and three in the top of the fourth.

Cory Taylor had a bunt single to lead things off for Troy in the first. Stecolian Brown drove home the run with a single into center field. Logan Stewart added a basehit RBI and Mitch McLeod scored an additional two runs with his follow-up single. Cody Johnson had a basehit also in the inning.

Troy finished with three runs in the fourth off Hutchinson’s hit and two singles by McLeod and Nicholas Mobley.

Blake Thomas closed the game for Troy in the sixth, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Thanks to Bill Floyd and Doug McClendon for reports on the two Dixie Minor teams.