NATCHEZ &045; Chris Dunaway had to take the day off Thursday from his regular job.

That’s how it’s been for the coach of the Natchez 11-year-old All-Stars this week. His job on the side &045; one that comes with a ton of glory but doesn’t quite pay the bills &045; was cutting in too much of his regular job with some sleepless nights thrown in since the state tournament started.

But complain? Shoot no.

Not after the All-Stars finished the week off by claiming the state championship at their home park &045; an anomaly in Dixie Youth baseball &045; by taking Game 2 Thursday night over Magee 6-3 thanks to a big first inning and solid efforts on the mound from Daniel Dunaway and Christopher Perry.

Magee won Game 1 handily, 14-3, in five innings to force the second game.

&uot;I know things didn’t go well that first game, but I knew they would be there the second,&uot; Chris Dunaway said. &uot; They’re the type of kids where they just didn’t quit. When you jump out on the right foot, the other team will know they’re in a baseball game.

&uot;We’ve had so many heroes in this from top to bottom. One man kept stepping up for us. I guess it was a complete team.&uot;

Even in the last game someone different stepped up at the right time for Natchez, and its five-run first inning set the tone after dropping that first game by more than 10 runs. Magee chipped away for three runs and finished the game with nine hits, but Dunaway was solid through five before Perry faced one batter over the minimum in the sixth and got the last out on a called third strike to incite a celebration on the infield.

&uot;That first game, they just weren’t there,&uot; Natchez head coach Boo Brumfield said. &uot;I don’t know what happened. We dropped that one ball, and it all went to pieces. You pretty much know when you’re down. We saved Daniel and Christopher, and it worked out for the best.&uot;

Dunaway, though, was set to take the mound in the sixth when Magee came up with the top of its lineup set to bat. But the right-hander had reached his 13-inning limit for the tournament the previous inning, and coaches summoned Perry to get warmed up quick and try to shut the door.

Perry got a strikeout before surrendering a double to right center from speedy Rashad Williamson. Xavier Hayes then hit a grounder to short that Daniel Dunaway bare-handed and fired to Collin Hammons for the second out.

Perry then got strike out to end it.

&uot;After they said Daniel was out, Jamon (Gray) gave me the ball and said I was going to be pitching,&uot; Perry said. &uot;I was nervous, too. In a game like this, I (get nervous). I’ve never thrown that hard before. (The final strikeout) was surprising. I don’t know what I got, but he called it. My motion was right, and I just knew I was going to do all right.&uot;

Coaches gave an indication Perry might start when he warmed up in the bullpen before the game, but instead Dunaway turned in another gem before exiting. Magee got two in the fourth to trim it to 6-3 and put two runners on in the fifth courtesy of Dunaway’s only walks of the game.

But he ran out of innings after throwing a complete game in the win over Petal and two innings against Laurel Wednesday.

&uot;I went out and asked him about his arm,&uot; Brumfield said. &uot;He said, ‘I feel like I’m throwing strikes but he’s not giving it to me.’ I told him to keep going and it’ll happen. Christopher came in and had ice water in his veins &045; that’s all I can say. Nothing bothers him.&uot;

Natchez gave Daniel Dunaway room to work after that first inning when it put up five runs off starter Brandon Johnston. Dunaway helped himself out with a solo blast to start off, and Scott Turner singled in Perry for the second run.

Daniel Huffines then put down a bunt where no one was covering first and allowed Hammons to score and Turner to move to third when no one covered third. Huffines moved up to second, and both he and Turner scored on wild pitches for a 5-0 lead.

&uot;Five or six runs, that shouldn’t have beaten us,&uot; Magee head coach Lee Toney said. &uot;We never could get it going. They did a good job. Their pitcher pitched an excellent ball game. That’s the thing about baseball &045; you can’t ever tell. These are two good ball teams right here. I’m proud of them.&uot;

Natchez got another run in the fourth when Turner scored on Gray’s sacrifice fly, but give credit to Magee’s pitchers after that first. Tyson McDonald and Steven Chisolm held Natchez to just three hits, including a ground-rule double from Daniel Dunaway in the third.

Dunaway, though, got out of a jam in the fourth after Magee scored two runs on RBI singles from Ben Sellers and Dakota Kennedy. And everyone else held on to keep Magee &045; last year’s Minor League state champs &045; at bay on the scoreboard.

&uot;McComb did the same thing to us,&uot; Huffines said of Game 1. &uot;We always win when it’s 8 o’clock. You can’t beat us when it’s 8 o’clock.&uot;