By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

The Troup County 11-12 American All-Stars may not play any more this summer, but they’ll be a force in the coming years.

Troup American dropped an 11-7 decision to the Thomaston All-Stars Tuesday at the George F. Harris Baseball Complex in an elimination game, ending the team’s hopes of qualifying for the state tournament.

Troup fought hard the whole game, however, and with a young squad, head coach Curt Longshore knows the players will only improve for next year.

Most of the players will be in the 11-12 age group again in 2010.

“I told them I’ve been there as a player, and I know it hurts,” said Longshore, who is in his first year leading an all-star team. “There’ll be many more summers for them, though.”

Troup trailed 3-0 early, but clawed back to take a 5-3 lead in the third inning on a bases-loaded single from Parker Pearson and a two-run double from Winston Turner.

Thomaston added one run in the fourth, but took a 9-5 lead in the fifth on a three-run homer from Elijah Hill with two outs.

American responded with a two-run single from Jackson Shelnutt to close the deficit to 9-7, but Thomaston put the nail in the coffin with another two-run homer from Hill in the top of the sixth.

“The team that made the least amount of mistakes won,” Longshore said. “Every time we clawed back in, we let it slip away.”

Troup’s refusal to give up was indicative of how the team has fought all year, Longshore said.

“Before the game, I told them this game was like a prize fight,” Longshore said. “We were a boxer put in a corner and we had no choice but to fight our way out.”

Longshore said this season was a good experience for the players and the coaches, and that will help at this time next year.

“It’s a learning experience for all of us,” Longshore said. “Every one of them will be back at this level, and they’ll be that much better.”