Thompson blasts win for Miss-Lou
Published 12:51 am Sunday, July 8, 2007
NATCHEZ — A walk-off home run by Seth Thompson lifted the 16 and under Babe Ruth All-Stars over Kenner 3-2 Saturday in game 1 of the Babe Ruth State Tournament at the Vidalia High School baseball field.
Pitchers Mason Ozburn and Justin Mattio battled back and forth but Miss-Lou struck first in the third inning off a RBI triple from Jordan Dossett.
Miss-Lou pitcher Ozburn had a no-hitter going into the fifth when Kenner took the lead with two runs scored off a fielding error and RBI double from J. D. Taylor.
“I lost my speed in that inning,” Ozburn said. “I had to rely on my defense.”
The score stood 2-1 for Kenner going into the bottom of the sixth when Dossett reached on a single.
Barnes and John Brixey moved him to third on a two consecutive ground balls before Dossett stole home on a passed ball to tie the game 2-2.
Ozburn went three up, three down in the top of the seventh to give Miss-Lou a chance to win.
Thompson was first to the plate for Miss-Lou and crushed it to left field for his first walk-off home run.
“I knew I had to boot up and make a beast of myself,” said Thompson. “I saw it coming and just smashed it.”
Ozburn pitched a complete game striking out nine and walking one. Dossett and Thompson went 2 for 3.
“I was looking for that from Seth (Thompson), he has power to burn,” head coach Bill Brixey said. “This has been as good of a baseball game I’ve seen in awhile.”
The Miss-Lou All-Stars defeated Kenner 14-4 in game 2 to claim the Babe Ruth State Championship.
The winning pitcher was Dossett, Ozburn had a double and Thompson hit two home runs. His last home run was a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
The Miss-Lou All-Stars and Kenner will play Game 3 at 1 p.m.