The Post 70 American Legion 17U Black team got its 2015 District Tournament started in Dothan on Thursday evening but fell 302 to Wiregrass Sports Academy in a well-pitched game.

After Troy took the early lead, scoring a couple runs in both the first and second innings, Wiregrass Sports Academy was able to take the lead in the middle innings and never let go.

“The difference of the game tonight was that we left five or six base runners on base tonight,” Troy head coach Nick Collins said. “We had the lead off hitters on base in the final three innings. We just couldn’t get the big hit. Their pitcher really settled in and didn’t let up another run.”

With Troy up 2-0 in the top of the third inning, the Wiregrass team was able to get a couple runners on due to a walk and error. They scored both of those runners to tie the game at two on a double.

“After we were up 2-0, I think we got a little complacent,” Collins said. “We sat on the lead a little bit and lost some of our aggressiveness. We didn’t do anything over the last few innings.”

John Kelso started the game on the mound for Troy on Thursday night. He pitched the first four and a third innings allowing all three runs.

Tyler Hale came in and pitched the final two and two thirds innings without allowing another run.

Hunter Jones led the way in hitting on Thursday night for Troy. He finished 2-3 at the plate with a double. Lane Mitchell also had two hits on the night he went a perfect 2-2. Both Logan Thompson and Jack Knight both finished with one hit.

Although this is a double-elimination style tournament and Troy is one loss away from elimination, they are still guaranteed a spot at the state tournament as hosts.

With the loss Troy enters the losers bracket and will face the loser of Troy’s other 17U team and Dothan at 7 p.m. today.

“We need to maintain the energy and excitement that we start the game with. We were ready to play and came out and did the things we needed to do, and then we relaxed,” Collins said. “We need to do a better job at battling through the whole game. I think we were complacent for a couple of innings tonight and it came back and bit us.”