The Troy Dixie Minor Rookies traded runs with Muscle Shoals through the first few innings, but sprang to life late and pulled away for the win and state title. Troy put the game away with a big inning at the plate in the fifth before winning 11-4.

In Wednesday’s one-run loss, Troy stranded 10 batters, and looked to be continuing that streak through the early stages on Thursday.

Troy plated eight runs in the inning to cruise to the win. In the inning, Chris Huner’s team went back to the basics of the game and scored the go-ahead runs.

“I set the line-up up to spread the best bunters through it,” Huner said. “We got some guys with power and that can hit, but went back to small ball to get the runs in.”

Huner pointed to one instant in the eight-run fourth that summed up his team’s day, and tournament.

Scott Taylor Renfroe laid down what Huner called “the perfect bunt,” that scored two runs, and put life in the team.

“Both runners scored on a bunt to first,” Huner said. “As a matter of fact, the first runner was still getting up off the dirt when the trailing runner, Noah Prestwood, slid in. We had two runs score on the same bunt play.”

Huner said that the group of players worked hard for the moment, and never looked back once taking the lead.

“They knew they had to keep playing well late to win it, and they did just that,” said Huner. “They wanted to bring this trophy back to Troy.”

Members of the team include: Nathan Braisted, Rodarius Christian, DeAndrey Henderson, Brady Huner, Hunter Keenan, Skylar Kidd, Noah Prestwood, Ben Reeves, Scott Taylor Renfroe, Laquavin Rodgers, Tyler Williams and J.D. Wilson.