After winning the state championship, the Clarksdale 6-year-old baseball all-stars recently finished 4-2 in the World Series played in Southaven.
“This group exceeded what we originally thought what we were going to be able to do,” Clarksdale coach Tom Fleming said. “They played really well in that last game against the Georgia state champions. We were the Mississippi state champions. It came down to one run, so I was very proud of them.”
The 6-year-olds did win the sportsmanship trophy.
“That says a lot about this group of kids and the parents also,” Fleming said.
The Clarksdale all-stars opened 3-0 in pool play.
The 6-year-olds started off in pool play with a 21-3 victory against Madison County North on Saturday.
Reed Dill had a double and two runs; Hunter Marley had a single and three runs; General McKnight had a triple, single and three runs; Jonathan Flowers had two singles and three runs; Heath Alan Freeman had a double, single and three runs; Michael Stonestreet had a double, single and three runs; Landon Maddox had a single, double and two runs; Chandler Lewis scored one run; and Wilkes Bullock had a double and run.
The 6-year-olds defeated Bolivar, Tenn., 15-8 on Sunday.
Dill had two singles and two runs; Marley had three singles and three runs; McKnight had two doubles, one single and two runs; Flowers doubled and scored one run; Freeman had a double and a run; Stonestreet had a double and a run; Maddox had two singles and one run; Jackson Webb had two singles, one run and a triple; Lewis had a single and a run; Parker Cummins had a single; and Bullock had two singles and two runs.
The 6-year-olds won 16-3 against Madison County South on Sunday.
Dill had three singles and a run; Marley had one single and one run; McKnight had two singles and two runs; Flowers had a double, single and two runs; Freeman had a double, single and two runs; Stonestreet had two singles and two runs; Maddox had a double, single and two runs; Webb had a double and run; Lewis had a single and two runs; Cummins had three singles and one run; and Bullock had two singles.
Following pool play, the 6-year-olds faced off against Middle Valley, Tenn., and lost 22-3 on Monday.
Dill had a double and run, while Flowers and Freeman each had a single and run, Stonestreet had two singles, Webb singled, Lewis doubled, and Bullock singled.
“We didn’t play very good and their first eight batters all hit balls to the outfield,” Fleming said. “They just had a great day.”
The all-stars bounced back with a 16-14 win against Madison County South.
Dill scored two runs, Marley scored two runs, McKnight scored three runs, Freeman scored one run, Stonestreet scored one run, Maddox and Webb scored two each, Lewis scored two, and Cummins scored one.
“We actually were behind most of that game against a team we had already beaten,” Fleming said. “Finally, we started playing right at the end and got ‘em.”
The 6-year-olds’ season ended with 7-6 loss to Hopewell, Ga., which was the state champion for Georgia.
Clarksdale was ahead 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, made a couple of errors and lost.
“During that game, we turned three double plays,” Fleming said. “Up until the last inning, we played flawless defense.
“This Hopewell team went on to finish second in the World Series.”
Dill at pitcher contributed to one double play, the shortstop Flowers contributed to another, and the second baseman Marley caught a line drive for the other.
Dill scored one run, Marley scored one run, Flowers scored two runs, while Freeman and Stonestreet scored one each.
“It was really a defensive battle,” Fleming said. “It was a good old-fashioned baseball game. They played their hearts out.”
