By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Two games, two shutout victories.

That’s not a bad way for the Troup County National 11-12 all-star team to open its stay in the Dixie Youth Baseball District 1 tournament at the Harris Baseball Complex.

After blanking Pike County 10-0 on Saturday, Troup County topped Thomaston 7-0 on Sunday to remain in the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

It’ll be an all-Troup County showdown today, with Troup National and Troup American meeting at 7:30 p.m. with a berth in Wednesday’s championship game on the line.

Troup American, which didn’t play Sunday, beat Manchester 13-2 on Saturday.

“We’ve got that Troup team (today), and they’re very good,” Troup National coach Huey Hood said. “I told my guys to come focused, stay out of the pool, and don’t think because they’re younger they’re going to come out here and roll over. They’ll be ready.”

Through two games, it’s been all about pitching for Troup National.

In Saturday’s game, Jeremy Harper had nine strikeouts in four innings.

Harper got it done at the plate as well with a home run, and Chase Freeman also hit one out.

In Sunday’s game, Cody Mimbs, C.J. Tatum and Logan Hood combined to throw a two-hit shutout.

Mimbs started and went three innings.

The game plan, Mimbs said, was to “just get ahead, throw it in the strike zone.”

Tatum pitched the fourth and fifth innings, and Hood finished things off in the sixth.

The game was scoreless through three innings, but Troup broke through for four runs in the fourth.

Colby Freeman and Hood each had RBI hits in the inning.

Troup tagged on three insurance runs in the sixth, with Logan Moody and Freeman each delivering RBI hits, and Harper driving in another run with a groundout.

In the bottom of the sixth, Troup finished the game with a perfectly-executed double play.

“That was icing on the cake against a real good team,” Hood said.

Troup American earned its spots in today’s game with an easy win over Manchester Saturday.

Mack Reese and Winston Turner each pitched two innings, and Duke blasted a three-run home run to spur the offensive effort.

Jackson Shelnutt and Turner added two hits apiece.

The winner of today’s Troup County showdown will finish no worse than second in the tournament, guaranteeing a berth in the state tournament.

“It’s going to be fun, Troup on Troup,” Hood said. “Hopefully there’ll be a good crowd here to cheer them on.”