GREENSBORO–The Sumter County 7-and-8-year old All-Stars were able to hold a potent Thomasville lineup in check for every inning but the third. But that one nine-run at-bat was enough for the Clarke County team as they recorded a 13-3 victory in five innings.

Sumter took early leads of 1-0 and 3-2 as both teams played their way into the Dixie Youth District Tournament first-round game. Not surprisingly, Sumter’s first two runs came courtesy of the big bats of Jeremy Hines and Blaine Winsett, who had shone in Sumter’s victory at the sub-District tournament last weekend. Hines opened the scoring by crossing the plate in the top of the first, and after Thomasville scored two in the inning’s bottom half, Winsett tied the game in the second with a long double to left center, driving in Kevin Sadler.

After holding Thomasville scoreless in the bottom of the second, Sumter took the lead and threatened to break the game open. Brett Boland led things off with a triple before Nick Clowers and Drew Busby followed with singles to drive in Boland, put Sumter on top 3-2, and set the table for the top of the order. But the Thomasville pitcher made a diving catch of a ball off the bat of T.J. Hughes and was able to make the double-play at first, killing the rally.

Thomasville responded with the same kind of huge two-out rally that Sumter had used to knock off Butler and Demopolis the previous weekend, scoring nine runs after pitcher Sadler had thrown to first for the second out.

Sumter battled to get back in the game, getting singles from Seth Meadows in the fourth and Winsett and Camden Martin in the fifth, as well as playing solid defense to keep Thomasville off the board in the fourth. But Thomasville’s talented shortstop made multiple defensive stops and Sumter was unable to cut into the 11-3 lead.

Thomasville was then able to push two runs across in the bottom of the fifth to activate the 10-run rule and end the game.

Sumter looked to bounce back against Greensboro Friday night in a game completed after press deadline.

Sumter’s All-Stars are T.J. Hughes, Seth Meadows, Ian Hester, Jeremy Hines, Walker Meadows, Kevin Sadler, Clay Truelove, Blaine Winsett, Camden Martin, Cullen Bailey, Brett Boland, Nick Clowers, and Drew Busby.