The summer came to an early close for the Columbia 12u all-stars Sunday in the state tournament in Kosciusko after finishing 2-2 in the double-elimination event.
Nicole Carney said she wasn’t sure if the tournament getting pushed back a week because of Hurricane Barry affected the all-stars but that the players and parents will cherish the memories they created through the years nonetheless.
“We had a phenomenal summer for our last year,” she said. “They played an awesome district tournament, then Barry hit us and everything got moved. I don’t know if it was the rearranging of the schedule or what, but we struggled with our batting in the state tournament. But we had a great time with it, and it’s been a great run. We don’t regret a moment of these last six years of all-stars.”
Columbia 12u began the tournament Friday with a 12-9 win over Yazoo City that was led by a 3 RBI performance by Trace McDonald. The all-stars won their first game Saturday as well 8-6 over Wayne County, with Ayden Buckley driving in three. In the nightcap Saturday, Columbia lost 12-5 to Kosciusko while dealing with a small strike zone, according to Carney.
“Dillon Rowley (five innings pitched, one earned run) pitched the game of his life. He pitched a heck of a game against an umpire that was killing him with the strike zone (six walks),” Carney said. “He had a strike zone the size of a shoebox.”
With their backs against the wall Sunday against Wayne County, the all-stars struggled to gain traction offensively and lost 4-1 and were eliminated. Nik Carney struck out five batters in two innings of relief.
Carney said that despite being eliminated, Columbia 12u flashed some leather in the tournament, especially one of its infielders.
“We had some great plays. (Mikell Thomas) Breland was probably the best second baseman you could ask for,” she said.
Pictured Above: Columbia 12u includes, front row, from left, Drew Robbins, Jackson Speir, Mikell Thomas Breland, Kaleb Lewis, Roman Lawrence, Dillon Rowley and Chad Rowley; middle row, Austin Baughman, Grayson Davis, Caden Mingo, Ayden Buckley, Nik Carney, Cole Sinclair, Trace McDonald; back row, head coach Matt Carney and Keith Baughman.
