LPJ Sports Report
LAUREL, Miss. — Louisiana’s 12U All-Star team, made up primarily of players from Ruston, capped a years-long journey Monday by defeating Texas 6-0 to win the Dixie Youth Baseball O-Zone World Series championship.
The title was secured in dominant fashion as Dayton Green and Andy Slocum combined to throw a no-hitter in the championship game. Green struck out nine batters over 4.2 innings before Slocum recorded the final five outs, striking out two to complete the performance.
For head coach Chris Brister, the championship represented the fulfillment of a vision that began nearly seven years ago.
“It has been a long journey,” Brister said. “We started thinking about this about seven years ago. There were three of the kids that played on this year’s team — Ezekiel Wilson, Mayes Brister and Joshua Walker — who made the six-year-old Ruston All-Star team as five-year-olds. So we kind of started thinking these kids were really special and if we could build something around them and add to it over the years, we might be able to win one of these things or at least get there one day.”
Brister said his own experiences growing up playing Dixie Youth Baseball made the accomplishment even more meaningful.
“I grew up playing DYB baseball, and I played in a small town, and it was always a dream of mine to get to a state tournament, let alone a World Series,” Brister said. “When I saw how talented this group of kids was in this age group, I thought we could build something and eventually get there, but to ever think that we could get to the mountaintop… it was just a wildest dream come true.”
Louisiana grabbed control early, scoring twice in the first inning. Dayton Green drove in the game’s first run with a double down the left-field line before Ezekiel Wilson added another RBI on a groundout.
The championship turned in the bottom of the fourth inning with Louisiana protecting a 2-0 lead.
Texas put runners on second and third with no outs before Louisiana produced the game’s biggest defensive play.
“They get runners on second and third with nobody out,” Brister said. “Dayton was struggling just a little bit for the first time in the game, kind of facing some adversity. On a one-two pitch, they hit a line drive to our second baseman, Maze Brister, and he snags it out of the air and, in one motion, does a spin move and throws it over to our shortstop, Joshua Walker, who was there at second to get a bang-bang double play. Then Dayton was able to strike out the next batter and just like that kind of crushed any momentum that they had.”
Louisiana added four more runs to pull away before Slocum entered to finish off the championship.
His appearance provided one of the week’s most inspiring storylines.
Slocum had been sidelined for eight weeks after being diagnosed with Little League elbow and had only recently been cleared to throw. Meanwhile, Louisiana lost another key pitcher, Slade Young, to a broken leg suffered during junior high football practice just before the tournament.
“Andy got cleared the week of the World Series to throw,” Brister said. “We tried to give him some time in the first game of the World Series and he threw seven pitches and complained about his elbow, so we had to pull him. We didn’t think he was going to be able to throw any, but he was able to come in the last two innings and did a wonderful job.”
Wilson led Louisiana offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Cale Patton also collected two hits. Louisiana finished with seven hits, turned a double play and committed no errors.
Brister also credited the Ruston community and the tradition of Dixie Youth Baseball for helping make the championship run memorable.
“It’s just community-based ball at its finest,” Brister said. “In the world of travel ball and people going here and there, to be able to play for your community… this whole week, it’s just been so much encouragement from people back home letting us know that they’ve watched our games.”
He said support came from generations of former youth baseball players who followed Louisiana’s run online.
“People that played 30 years ago are watching it, letting us know that they’ve enjoyed watching us play,” Brister said. “So it was just a phenomenal week in Laurel.”
Brister serves as head coach and manager, with Nathan Young and Lee Patton as assistant coaches. The Ruston 12U all-star roster includes Chance Butler, Slade Young, Cale Patton, Dayton Green, Ezekiel Wilson, Granger Brown, Jessie Ford, Joshua Walker, Andy Slocum, Kingston Venzant, Patrick Gillum and Mayes Brister. The players attend Ruston schools and Cedar Creek.
Other game recaps – information taken from Game Changer
Tennessee 8, Louisiana 6 (Sunday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars saw their unbeaten run at the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series come to an end Sunday night, falling 8-6 to Tennessee in the tournament’s first championship game in Laurel, Mississippi.
Ruston struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening inning after a Tennessee error plated one run and Ezekiel Wilson followed with an RBI single.
Tennessee answered with three runs in the second inning before breaking the game open with a four-run third to build an 8-3 advantage.
The Ruston squad refused to go away.
Cale Patton sparked the comeback with a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Louisiana continued to chip away over the final innings. Ruston scored on an error, a balk and a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to two runs, but the rally ended just short.
Patton, who also started on the mound, homered on a full-count pitch and drove in a run, while Wilson added an RBI single as the two combined to account for Louisiana’s only RBIs.
Despite the loss, Ruston had battled through the winners bracket with a perfect 5-0 record to reach the championship round. The defeat forced a winner-take-all title game Monday, giving Louisiana one more opportunity to claim the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series championship.
After five dominant victories to open the tournament, Ruston showed the same resilience that had carried it throughout the week, battling until the final out despite facing its largest deficit of the World Series.
Louisiana 15, South Carolina 1 (Sunday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars broke open a close contest Sunday with a nine-run sixth inning to defeat South Carolina’s Wylie Street 15-1 in Laurel, Mississippi.
Leading 6-1 entering the final frame, Ruston exploded offensively to end the game in dominant fashion. Dayton Green highlighted the rally with a two-run home run to center field, while Mayes Brister added a two-run double and Andy Slocum followed with an RBI double. Chance Butler chipped in an RBI single, Kingston Venzant and Joshua Walker each drew bases-loaded walks, and a passed ball accounted for the final run of the inning.
Ruston built an early lead behind Cale Patton, who launched a solo home run in the second inning. Granger Brown added a two-run single later in the frame before Green drove in two more runs with a sacrifice fly in the third.
Green also starred on the mound, tossing two hitless innings with three strikeouts to start the game. Brister worked the final three innings in relief, allowing one run while helping secure the victory.
Brister and Patton each collected two hits as Ruston finished with 11 hits. Green drove in three runs, while Ezekiel Wilson, Butler and Venzant each stole multiple bases as Louisiana swiped 10 bases in the game.
Ruston also played flawless defense, committing no errors. Slocum led the defensive effort with eight chances behind the plate.
The victory improved Ruston to 5-0 in the tournament.
Louisiana 9, Texas 5 (Saturday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars erased an early three-run deficit Saturday to defeat Texas (Livingston) 9-5, completing an unbeaten run through pool play at the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series in Laurel, Mississippi.
Texas grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Ruston quickly settled in and responded. Louisiana took its first lead in the second inning when Granger Brown drew a bases-loaded walk before two runs scored on a passed ball to make it 4-3.
After Texas tied the game at 4-4 in the third inning, Ruston answered again. Joshua Walker delivered an RBI single to put Louisiana back in front before Dayton Green followed with an RBI double to extend the advantage to 6-4. Ruston added insurance runs late to pull away for the four-run victory.
Walker and Green powered the offense from the middle of the lineup, collecting three hits apiece. Green finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Walker went 3-for-3, drove in a run and stole two bases.
Ruston totaled 11 hits and continued its aggressive play on the bases, swiping seven stolen bases while also turning a double play defensively.
Cale Patton started on the mound before Mayes Brister took over in relief and shut down the Texas offense. Brister allowed no earned runs over 3 1/3 innings, giving up no hits while striking out four without issuing a walk.
The victory improved Ruston to 4-0 in the tournament, completing a perfect pool-play record and positioning Louisiana for a deep run in the championship bracket behind timely hitting, strong relief pitching and another resilient comeback.
Louisiana 7, Georgia 3 (Saturday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars overcame an early deficit Saturday, rallying for a 7-3 victory over Georgia to improve to 3-0 at the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series in Laurel, Mississippi.
After Georgia scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take its first lead against Louisiana in the tournament, Ruston answered immediately.
Louisiana tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with the help of an error before Dayton Green lifted a sacrifice fly and Jessie Ford delivered an RBI single to even the score at 3-3.
Ruston took control for good an inning later when Patrick Gillum lined a two-run single to give Louisiana a 5-3 advantage. The team added two insurance runs in the fifth to seal the victory.
Ford led the offense, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. He singled twice before adding a double in the fifth inning. Gillum also drove in two runs with his go-ahead single.
Dayton Green started on the mound, striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings before Georgia mounted its third-inning rally. Chance Butler took over in relief and shut the door, tossing three scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out one.
Ruston also continued to pressure opponents on the bases, with Ford and Joshua Walker each stealing multiple bases. Louisiana added a defensive highlight by turning a double play.
The victory kept Ruston unbeaten through pool play and showcased the team’s ability to respond under pressure, using timely hitting, strong relief pitching and solid defense to remain among the tournament’s top contenders.
Louisiana 15, Arkansas 2 (Friday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars continued their dominant start at the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series on Friday, cruising to a 15-2 victory over Arkansas in Laurel, Mississippi.
Jessie Ford powered Louisiana’s offense, driving in five runs on three hits. Ford gave Ruston an early spark with a three-run home run to center field in the first inning before adding a two-run double in the third to cap his big day at the plate.
Ruston wasted no time taking control, erupting for nine runs in the opening inning. In addition to Ford’s home run, Ezekiel Wilson delivered an RBI triple, Andy Slocum drew a bases-loaded walk, Granger Brown, Kingston Venzant and Joshua Walker each added RBI singles, and a passed ball accounted for another run as Louisiana built a commanding advantage.
The offense kept rolling in the second inning with RBI hits from Mayes Brister and Wilson before adding three more runs in the third, highlighted by Ford’s two-run double.
Cale Patton started on the mound and was sharp, striking out three over two hitless innings without issuing a walk. Ford followed with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out all three batters he faced.
Ruston finished with 12 hits, led by multiple-hit performances from Brister, Ford and Wilson. The team also put constant pressure on Arkansas with an aggressive running game, stealing 13 bases. Brister, Ford, Joshua Walker and Venzant each swiped multiple bags.
The convincing victory improved Ruston’s record to 2-0 in World Series play and continued an impressive run of dominant pitching, explosive offense and aggressive baserunning.
Louisiana 11, North Carolina 1 (Thursday)
The Ruston 12U All-Stars, representing Louisiana at the Dixie Youth O Zone World Series, opened tournament play in impressive fashion Thursday, defeating North Carolina Topsail 11-1 in Laurel, Mississippi.
Dayton Green led the way with a dominant performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters over four innings while allowing no hits and just one unearned run. He walked two before Mayes Brister and Andy Slocum combined to finish off the victory.
Ruston wasted little time taking control of the game. Jessie Ford drove in the first run with an RBI single in the opening inning before Ezekiel Wilson added another run with a groundout to give Louisiana an early 2-0 advantage.
The lead grew to 4-0 in the third inning as Ford delivered another clutch hit, a two-run single to center field.
Ruston put the game out of reach with a seven-run fifth inning. An error scored the first run of the frame before Green drilled a two-run double. Cale Patton followed with an RBI walk, and Wilson capped the rally with a three-run double to extend the lead to 11-1.
Ford and Joshua Walker each collected two hits to pace the offense, while Ford and Wilson drove in three runs apiece. Patrick Gillum drew two walks as Ruston displayed patience at the plate, earning eight free passes during the game. Ford and Kingston Venzant also stole multiple bases.
The victory gave Ruston a strong start to its quest for a Dixie Youth O Zone World Series championship, combining dominant pitching, timely hitting and aggressive baserunning in a complete opening-game performance.
