Monroe Dixie Majors fall in semifinals

The Monroe 19U Dixie Majors saw their run at the 2015 Dixie Majors World Series come to an end following an 11-6 loss to host Ozark (Alabama) on Tuesday in the semifinals.

It was the first game of the tournament that saw Monroe surrender more than four runs in a single game during the 2015 Dixie Majors World Series.

"Ozark had the ability today to put the ball in play," Monroe coach Jay Culver said. "It out the pressure on us and we didn't handle it early on."

After Ozark built an 8-4 lead in the third inning, Chase Cockrell of Oak Grove High School hit a solo home run to pull Monroe within three runs at 8-5.

Monroe got as close as 8-6 in the sixth inning. Ozark then plated three runs in the top of the seventh to pull away.

Ozark jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Monroe starting pitcher Jordan Antley. The Monroe bats got going in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs and again in the bottom of the third.

"We knew we had the momentum then things fell off," Culver said.

The game marked the final high school level game for many local stars. Some of the Monroe Dixie Majors will move on to the college level in the coming months.

The Monroe Dixie Majors were coached by Culver with assistant coaches Cade Dowan and TJ Weed. The team is comprised of some of the high school baseball talent in the area including: Thomas Nicholson, Will Ryan and Dixon Houston of Neville; Jordan Antley, Cody Street and Joseph Tassin of West Ouachita; Chase Cockrell of Oak Grove; Wesley Drake of Claiborne Christian; Grant Shepherd of Ouachita Christian; Caleb Lasyone of Georgetown; Ethan Daily and Hunter Johnson of Ouachita; Austin Diel of Forest; Stihl Smith of Caldwell; Branson Woodward of Benton; Chase Spatafora and Landry Newsom of Union Parish; Caleb Wison of Glenbrook (Mississippi).

Connect with Cody on Twitter @cfutrellTNS or via e-mail cfutrell@thenewsstar.com