By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

MANCHESTER – It was one of those games that causes coaches to pull out the old cliche that “it’s a shame either team has to lose.”

In sports, though, there is a winner, and there is a loser, so it was that one Troup County team was going to end up on the wrong end of a classic ballgame Tuesday evening in the 9-10-year-old Dixie Youth Baseball District 1 tournament.

In a matchup that had it all – superb pitching, clutch hitting, dramatic rallies and a nearly two-hour rain delay – it was Troup American that outlasted Troup National 3-2 in a game that ended around midnight because of the long delay.

It wasn’t decided until Troup American’s Luke Hilderbrand came through with a game-winning, two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

That hit made a winner out of Colson Blackburn, who pitched all seven innings and had 13 strikeouts.

The win keeps Troup American unbeaten in the tournament, while Troup National saw its tournament season come to a close.

Troup American and Thomaston will represent the district in the state tournament, and the two teams will meet at 7 p.m. today in the championship round.

Thomaston would have to beat Troup today and Thursday to claim the district title.

“Troup (National) really played well. They’re the hardest team we’ve played,” Troup American coach Perry Prather said.

The game, Prather said, was a reflection of the no-quit attitude of his players.

“Our boys never give up,” Prather said. “We just keep battling back.”

Troup National coach Steve Pelham said Blackburn was the difference maker.

“Colson stopped us,” Pelham said. “He kept our two-three-four hitters off the bases.”

Pelham said his team got a “great pitching performance” from Colby Williams, who pitched six superb innings.

Both teams showed plenty of fight.

Troup American held a 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth when Troup National, which was down to its final at-bat, pushed a pair of runs across to take the lead.

Ryan Bliss came through with a two-run single to give Troup National its first lead of the game.

It was then Troup American’s turn to rally, with Ellis Matthews delivering a game-tying single that forced extra innings.

After Blackburn set Troup National down in the top of the seventh, Troup American won it in the bottom of the inning.

Hudson Graham and Seth Prather reached to set the table, and with two outs and two strikes, Hilderbrand came through.

“He was battling at the plate,” Prather said. “He won it, and they mobbed him at first base.”

Troup had a chance to win it thanks largely to the performance of Blackburn, who shut down a lineup that scored 27 runs the day before against Hogansville.

“Colson, I was so proud of him,” Prather said. “He pitched awesome for seven innings.”

Williams was just as good.

“Both of them pitched their hearts out,” Prather said.

Added Pelham: “We learned a lot during our three weeks. We wish Troup American all the best in the state tournament.”