By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

The 9-10 Troup National team continued its impressive run through the Dixie Youth Baseball District 1 tournament with a 14-0 win over the Pike County American all-stars on Tuesday.

Troup National, which earned a date in the championship game against Troup American today at 6:30 p.m., more than doubled its lead in the fourth inning with an array of hits and Pike errors to make it a a 14-0 game.

In the bottom of the inning, a double play by Troup closed a Pike scoring threat and ended the game due to the 10-run rule.

It was a solid win for coach Jay Anderson and his team, which has compiled a 4-0 record in the tournament and has won each game handily.

“(Pike) started a good pitcher, and we were excited about seeing some fastballs,” said Anderson, whose team had just a 1-0 lead after two innings. “They were going to try to let it fly now that they were seeing some speed.”

The National built a 1-0 lead before scoring five runs in the third and seven in the fourth.

Jake Farrar’s three-run RBI hit in the fourth with two outs kept things going for Troup and put it ahead by more than 10 runs to end the game early.

Austin Gordan started and was the winning pitcher for Troup.

Coming into the tournament, Anderson said his team wasn’t consistent at the plate, but through four games he’s seeing the offense coming along just fine.

“I’ve been pleased that the bottom of our order is starting the big innings for us,” Anderson said. “(The offense) is coming along and dong just fine. So far, we’ve shown that we have depth.”

The championship game will be a good test for Troup National, which beat Troup American 8-1 on Sunday.

“It’ll be a tough game,” Anderson said. “They’ve done a real good job and the coaches will have them prepared.”

Win or lose, Anderson is glad both local teams will be representing Troup County in the Dixie Youth Baseball state tournament.

“I like that (both teams will be going to state),” Anderson said. “It shows we have good baseball in Troup County.”