DEMOPOLIS &8212; In a winner&8217;s bracket struggle that ended 9-4, the Greene County Steam Plant and Gibbs and Sellers Babe Ruth League teams ran a close game that was decided by a big rally from Greene County in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Both teams came out with sluggish starts at bat, and it was the top of the third inning before either group put players across the plate. The Gibbs and Sellers team got two players, Matt Wallack and Larry Dunn, on base in the top of the inning off a hit by a pitch and walk, recording two outs in the process. A balk pitch moved both to scoring positions, and a double from Alex Wells brought both runners across the plate before the inning was over.

Greene County countered in the bottom of the inning after loading the bases off a walk of William Stewart, single from Trevor Johnson and a walk of Chris Sammons. Mathew Martin hit a single to bring in Stewart before three strikeouts from Sellers pitcher, Ben McCarter, closed the inning, 2-1.

Gibbs and Sellers didn&8217;t score in the top of the fourth due to solid Greene County defense, and in the bottom of the inning the group would capitalize with good offense. Russ Seale led off with a single that was followed by two strikeouts, during which he made his way to second on a pass ball. A single from Johnson allowed Seale to tie up the game, and, after Johnson stole second and Sammons got on by way of being hit by a pitch, a single from Michael Martin brought in Johnson and gave Greene County the lead, 3-2.

Gibbs and Sellers battled back in the top of the fifth. Wood Collins hit a single and was joined by Dunn, who was walked. Both advanced bases off of steals and a pass ball proved enough edge to bring in Collins and tie the game, 3-3.

The balls wouldn&8217;t drop for Greene County in the bottom of the inning as three consecutive batters popped out, two to the pitcher and one to right field.

Gibbs and Sellers took the lead once more in the top of the sixth. Following a ground out to second by the first batter, Alex Hopkins hit a single and made his way to second off a throwing error to first base by the Greene County shortstop and was joined by Cameron Findley, who was walked. A fielder&8217;s choice from Dillon Johnston proved the end for Findley&8217;s base running, but allowed Hopkins to score before the inning was finished, 4-3, by a pop out by the next batter.

Greene County came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the inning, putting up six points before the Gibbs and Sellers team could escape. Deonte Washington got on first with a walk and was followed by Stewart off a bunt and Johnson off a single to load the bases with no outs. Sammons singled and scored Washington, which was followed by a strikeout, and a double to center from Martin cleared the bases, scoring Stewart, Johnson and Sammons, before Martin was tagged out at third.

McCarter hit a single to keep the rally alive and was brought in off a triple to right from Chase Cameron, who scored off a pass ball before the next batter struck out, ending the inning, 9-4.

Gibbs and Sellers lead off the top of the seventh with a double from Wood Collins, who was left stranded when the next three batters struck out.