After going 2-1 in state tournament pool play, the Atlee 9-10 All-Stars faced a strong challenges in the first two rounds of the single-elimination state championship.

  In their elimination round opener against Great Falls, Atlee exhausted the eligibility of their top two pitchers. Jack Dragum threw 70 pitches and Nick Zona closed the game with 56 pitches, burning them from throwing for the rest of the tournament.

  In the bottom of the seventh, with the game tied at three, Jack Chenault was walked then Zona got a hit. Next up, Dragum ripped a double to the left center fence and Chenault scored the winning run from second. On defense, center fielder Dalton Davis kept Great Falls from scoring the winning run from third base with laser throws to the plate.

  In the semi-finals Atlee got a rematch with DTQ, the only team to defeat them in pool play. Davis took the mound on his birthday, threw 77 pitches and Atlee led 8-4 when he left in the fifth inning. Adam Jewell closed out the 8-5 win for Atlee, but the team lost two more pitchers for the tournament.

  In the championship game against Dulles, Hunter Brooks made his first appearance on the mound. Brooks went 4 2/3 innings and threw 76 pitches in the 12-1 win. Jordan Thompson closed out the contest. Both Zona and Dragum hit home runs in the championship game. On defense, Atlee made three double plays in the game.

  For the tournament, Dragum hit three home runs, Zona two and Brooks one.

  Atlee will now join squads from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Caroline, Tennessee and West Virginia in the Tournament of State Champions in Huntington, WV on July 30. Play begins at Mitch Stadium on Saturday following opening ceremonies.

  Atlee will play pool games against GA, SC and W. Va. The top four teams overall following pool play move on to a single elimination play-off.

  In their pool opener, Atlee will face Ga. at 1 p.m. They then face SC at 8 p.m. on Sun. evening before closing out against host W. Va. a on Mon. at 8 p.m. All games can be viewed online at www.mitchstadium.com

  If Atlee advances from pool play, they would face their semi-final opponent on Tuesday. The championship is set for 7:05 p.m. Wed., August 4.

Information provided by Rodney Chenault