From staff reports

The 9-10 Troup County all-stars are among the final four teams left in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Laurel, Miss.

Troup defeated the host Laurel-Jones County all-stars 12-2 in four innings Tuesday, creating a rematch with the Mississippi state champions today at 7:30 p.m.

Troup lost its first game of the tournament to Mississippi 7-0.

Jake Farrar was the hero of Tuesday’s win over Laurel-Jones.

In addition to starting and pitching all four innings, Farrar smacked a grand slam - his second in two days, creating a new Dixie Baseball record.

In the fourth inning, Farrar’s homer gave Troup a 10-2 lead.

“He just seems to be so clutch,” said Troup head coach Jay Anderson. “Whatever the situation is, he always comes through. He stays calm and focuses on the pitch.”

Troup got an early 2-0 lead in the first on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice by Champ Willis, but Laurel-Jones tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning.

Ken Truitt hit an RBI double and scored on another wild pitch in the second inning to give Troup a 4-2 lead.

In the third, Jacob Vinson had a two-run single to give his team a four-run advantage, but most of the offensive fireworks came in the fourth.

Farrar hit his record-breaking grand slam, then Noah Hammett hit a two-run double to give Troup the 10-run lead.

With Mississippi’s loss to Florida Tuesday, Troup must face the same team it lost to in the opening round Saturday.

Win this one, however, and it’s on the championship game for Troup.

“We’re real excited, just two more games,” Anderson said. “We were wanting the rematch. We also won’t be facing the same pitcher (today) who we lost to on Saturday.”