By Robert Griffin

Sports Writer

Troup is still fighting.

Facing elimination on Monday in the Dixie Junior Boys Baseball World Series, the team responded, letting its bats speak loudly, first in a 17-13 win over Dothan, and then in a 12-11 victory over Virginia.

After losing its first game of the tournament 8-7 to Virginia, Troup has won three straight to advance to the final four.

Troup will play Mississippi at 5 p.m. today, with the winner advancing toWednesday’s championship game.

“It was two flat-out battles today that came down to the last at bat,” Troup head coach Huey Hood said. “We jumped out front, then got down a little bit, but then every one of our guys looked at each other and said that they weren’t going to lose the games.”

Troup now finds itself perhaps just a few victories away from a World Series title.

“It’s awesome to be in this position,” said Hood, who coached many of the same players in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series a year ago. “Last year at the World Series we felt like we underachieved (going 1-2), and we got off to a rocky start (this week), but these guys have a lot of fight in them. I’m excited to see what we can do (today).”

In the first game of the day, Troup faced a tough test against Dothan, the host team.

Troup was down by four runs going into the bottom of the second inning, but the team’s bats woke up, propelling it to a 12-run inning.

Cody Mimbs led the offensive charge for Troup, going 2-for-3 with five RBIs, followed closely by Austin Garrett, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Chase Freeman and Mason Hendrix would each add two RBIs.

Jeremy Harper, Logan Hood, and Jonathan Foster also had RBIs.

Troup led 14-4 before Dothan scored seven runs in the top of the fifth, and Troup countered with three big insurance runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 17-11 lead.

Keith, Mimbs, Harper and Garrett all pitched for Troup, recording four strikeouts.

“We were just playing great ball in that first game,” Hood said. “Those boys were just hitting. It was just a slugfest.”

The victory over Dothan set up a rematch with Virginia, the team is lost to on Saturday.

Troup was able to keep its bats hot and earn the one-run win.

“There ain’t nobody out here out-hitting us right now,” Hood said. “We are from top to bottom just stroking the ball. We are getting quality pitching and playing good defense.”

Keith led the team offensively, going 4-for-5 and driving in four runs.

Hood had a hit and three RBIs, and Harper and Freeman each had two hits and two RBIs.

Troup was down 9-5 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, but would once again keep fighting, scoring four runs in the inning to tie the game.

Troup added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, and an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 12-10 lead.

Hood, Mimbs and Harper each pitched for Troup and combined for seven strikeouts while giving up just one walk.

Mimbs, who pitched three innings of relief, got the win.

Hood said that the team was definitely looking to exact a little revenge on the team that beat them in the first round.

“We knew that we blew that lead in the first game against them,” Hood said. “We just came out and played really good baseball and now we are just one win away from the championship.”