In its first year playing summer ball, the Columbia 6u squad learned some tough lessons as it finished as the runner-up in the state tournament in Cleveland Sunday.
The all-stars went 3-2 in the tournament and lost both their opening game and the championship by only one run while winning the other three by eight runs each. They had their title dreams dashed Sunday afternoon by Hattiesburg in a 14-13 contest.
Head coach Brandon Thornhill said every time they took the field the all-stars got better as a team, which he said is what to expect from a 6-year-old squad.
“The only way to go is up,” he said. “They’re starting to understand the game and the fundamentals of it. They didn’t like losing, but that’s part of it growing up. They have to understand the ups and downs and how to win and how to take a loss. We lost two games by one run so I was overall pleased with them.”
Columbia 6u began the tournament Saturday morning with a 15-14 loss to Laurel Jones County before responding with wins over Philadelphia (15-7) and Pike County (18-10) to close the day. It got revenge the semifinals with an 11-3 win over Laurel Jones County Sunday morning to reach the championship.
Columbia 6u will compete July 19 through July 21 in Brookhaven in the Invitational World Series.
Pictured Above: Columbia 6u includes, front row, from left, Carter Hilburn, Kellan Singley, Bentley Thornhill, Harper Whittington and Eli McDaniel; second row, Colt Broom, Andrew Fortenberry, Brantley Westmoreland, Jay Rawls, Price Russell and Brody Brumfield; back row, Jered McDaniel, Jordan Whittington, head coach Brandon Thornhill and Brayden Thornhill.
