By Brad Greer

An estimated 2,500 spectators and players battled the sweltering heat over the  weekend  at J. P. Hudson Sportsplex as 55 youth baseball and softball teams battled it out in the 16th annual Dizzy Dean Summer Bash.

The event was the first of three post-season tournaments J. P. Hudson will host as the 6 and-under and 12-and under softball along with 6-and under and 9 and-under baseball teams take part in the Dizzy Dean North State tournament Thursday though Sunday.

While no host teams claimed first place in their age groups over the weekend, the Batesville 6-year-old and 9year-old baseball squads advanced to the championship game Sunday afternoon.

The Batesville 6-year-olds team eased through pool play Friday and Saturday with easy wins over Tate Co. (28-12), Southaven National (16-8) and Senatobia (20-4) before nipping Calhoun Co. 11-10 in Sunday’s semi-final round. Batesville then dropped a tough 20-19 verdict to Southaven American in the finals.

The Batesville 7-year-old team, which will host the North State tournament next week, fell to Senatobia (18-6) and to Hernando (15-1) before facing Water Valley Saturday with the results not being reported.

8-year-olds

The 8-year-old Batesville All-Stars lost their first two games of the tournament to Tate County (23-3) and Horn Lake (20-8) before salvaging the final game of pool play Saturday with a 17-9 victory over Bruce.

Jeren Daniels and Garrison Gray led Batesville at the plate with two singles in their loss to Horn Lake. Blain Cosby  added a single and scored two runs while John David Babb, Marquaveion Holmes, Wailes Fink and Avery Jenkins recorded singles.

9-year-olds

After losing their opening-round game to Senatobia 10-4 Friday, the 9-year-old Batesville All-Stars battled back to defeat Pontotoc 11-3 Saturday morning then pounded Senatobia 14-4 in a semi-final game rematch Sunday afternoon.

Batesville  faced off  against Southaven in the championship game and led 10-4 in the third before a seven-run  third inning gave the visitors an 11-10 advantage. Batesville tied the game at 11 in the fourth before Southaven re-took the lead at 14-11 in the sixth.

Batesville closed the margin to 14-13 with two runs in the seventh but could not get the tying run home from third as a strike out ended the game.

Caleb West led Batesville at the dish with a double and three singles while Forrest Pierce added three singles. Trevor Bailey chipped in with a pair of singles while Dre Moore and Travis Duffie doubled. Drake Barton registered a double and single and also scored three runs.

West and Duffie combined on a no-hitter in the victory over Pontotoc. Moore supplied the power at the plate with four runs batted in. Weslan Morgan drove in three runs with a double and single. Caleb White added a pair of singles while West helped his own cause with a two-run triple in the third inning.

10-year-olds

The Batesville 10-year-old All Stars lost a pair of tough one-run games  to Senatobia and Grenada before squaring off against Horn Lake late Saturday night.

In Friday’s opening-round game, the home team jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Senatobia rallied for a 11-10 victory. Batesville returned to the diamond Saturday to take on defending state champion Grenada.

Batesville jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning but could not hold on as Grenada plated two runs in the third inning to take a 5-4 victory.

Brayden Lee led Batesville with two singles while Nate Walls contributed with a double. Brandon Philips, Gage Hollister, Zac Dugger and Luke Weldon all singled.