It was a busy weekend in Gonzalez, LA for the Troup County All-Stars.

Two days yielded two wins for the Troup National 11-12-year-old all-star team as Troup cruised through the opening game of the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series Saturday night by defeating Surfside Beach, S.C. 13-3 and then defeating Goodlettsville, Tenn 3-1 on Sunday.The Troup American 9-10-year-old all-stars would give it all they had in the series, but came up short in its bid losing 4-3 to Ashddown, AR on Saturday and 16-4 to Gonzales National on Sunday.

The story of the weekend for Troup National was pitching.

Troup was led in both games by dominating pitching performances from Wyatt Frailey and Kevin Craft.

In the first game Frailey went five innings giving up only three hits and recording ten strikeouts. Craft went five innings in game two giving up two hits and striking out seven batters.

“They both have done very well for us,” coach Jay Anderson said. They really kept their composure on the mound, and they have really been unflappable out there. It’s easier for them to stay calm when they have a good defense behind them.”

Playing good defense is something that the Troup team knows how to do all too well. The team has continued its trend from the district and state tournaments, by committing no errors in the two games it has played in the Series so far.

“We preach it to the team all the time,” Anderson said. “If you have good solid pitching, get it to the strike zone, and play good solid defense behind it you will win every ball game.”

In the opening game of the series Troup faced a South Carolina team that has made its name in getting to the series. Last year, the 11-12 year old team from Surfside won the World Series in convincing fashion.

Troup was up to the task as they jumped out to a three run lead in the top of the second inning thanks to two big South Carolina errors.

After South Carolina would push two runs across in the bottom of the inning Troup went right back to work in the top of the fourth when Frailey would help out his cause by belting a solo homerun. Troup would push across another run later in the inning when Dylan Johnson brought home a run with an RBI single. Frailey finished the game going 2-4 with three RBIs. Johnson went 1-4 with an RBI.

Troup’s offense would explode in the top of the next frame, when Kevin Craft would belt a grand slam to give Troup a 9-2 lead.

South Carolina plated a run in the bottom of the inning, but Troup’s offense could not be stopped.

Parker Pearson and Ben Anderson lead off the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back singles. Jacob Shelnutt would follow them up by driving in a run with an RBI single. Frailey would then come to bat and crushed a two-run homerun that would give the team a 13-3 lead.

Pearson finished the game 1-2 with two RBIs. Dylan Johnson and Jake Howard would also add RBIs of their own.

Sunday’s game would be a bit tougher for the Troup squad.

As they have in past games though, Troup rose to the occasion against Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Troup jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Parker Pearson laced an RBI single.

Pitching and good defense would dominate for most of the game until the top of the fifth inning when Goodlettsville would plate a run to tie.

Troup countered in the bottom of the inning when Shelnutt would score on a pass ball. Jake Farrar then added some insurance with an RBI single to give Troup a 3-1 lead.

“We just had to battle through this game,” Anderson said. “They had a great pitcher, and we didn’t score as many runs, but just like that state championship game we were able to battle through and get the win.”

With the win, Troup earns a bye into the next round of the Series and a well-deserved day off.

All things considered Troup coach Perry Prather said that he was very proud of his 9-10-year-old all-stars and their accomplishments.

“We had a great year,” Prather said. We weren’t expecting to go and then with the help of the community and our parents we were able to pull it all together. It was a great experience for our kids and I am really proud of them.”

In game one of the series Troup was up against a formidable opponent in Ashdown.

The team was down 3-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, but refused to lie down.

With two outs, Troup would battle for thee runs in the inning to tie the score thanks to thee consecutive RBI singles from Ellis Matthews, John Crawford, and Jarred Helton.

Troup would be unable to hold the lead though, as Ashdown would plate the winning run in the bottom of the inning.

On Sunday, Troup would find itself up once again against a good opponent in the hometown Gonzales National squad.

While putting in a good effort, Prather said that his team just couldn’t find a way to get runners across when it mattered most.

“We just couldn’t hit the ball,” Prather said. ” We had the bases loaded a couple of times and just couldn’t get those hits when we needed to, but that’s how baseball goes.”

The team was lead on offense by John Crawford who went 2-3 in the game with a double and an RBI. Luke Hilerbrand and John Todd Bohn would both contribute with double’s and RBI’s of their own.

Colson Blackburn, David Sweat, and Ellis Matthews would all contribute on the mound for the team.

“They were just a really good team,” Prather said, “and we just couldn’t contain them.”