The bad news was that Troup American fell to Winder 3-2 in the Dixie Youth Baseball 11-12-year-old state tournament.
After the game, though, Troup American got some good news.
Despite the loss, Troup American advances to Thursday’s game that will decide the winner of its eight-team pool.
Three teams in the pool have one loss, and two of them will play today.
The winner of that game between Warner Robins and Winder takes on Troup American on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the best-of-three championship series that gets under way Friday.
Troup American took a 2-1 lead into the sixth and final inning of Tuesday’s game, but Winder rallied for a pair of runs to claim the win.
Bryce Haynes got the start and pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up one run, and Brantly Robinson threw the final three innings.
At the plate, Robinson continued his red-hot play in the tournament with a triple and a run-scored.
In nine official at-bats, Robinson has eight hits in the tournament.
Christian Alford was on base twice with a double and a walk, and Ben Stogner had a hit and an RBI.
Trent Bailey also knocked in a run.
Troup scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to build a 2-1 lead, but things came unraveled in the bottom of the sixth.
Troup American coach Brent Bailey said an outburst by a Winder coach played a key role in the outcome.
With runners on first and third and one out, Bailey said the Winder third-base coach began arguing a strike call, and it took more than 10 minutes to get him off the field.
Bailey said it was tough on Robinson, Troup’s pitcher.
“He waited for 12 minutes,” Bailey said. “The guy would not leave the third base coach’s box. They finally asked him to go to the dugout, and he still refused to leave.”
After the situation was finally settled, Robinson walked the next batter to load the bases, and another walk brought in the tying run.
With the bases still loaded, Bailey said the same coach came out to argue again, and the game was delayed a little longer.
Winder eventually won the game with a base hit.
“He iced our pitcher,” Bailey said.
Bailey was upset with what he felt was the gamesmanship of the Winder coach, and he felt it was a poor example of sportsmanship.
“That guy does not deserve to be out here coaching boys like that,” Bailey said. “I promised my boys they would never see anything like that from me.”
It worked out in the end, with Troup American earning the bye today, and Bailey is hoping to see Winder again.
“I want to face Winder in that championship game,” Bailey said. “Our boys want some more.”
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