The Marshall County 12U Cal Ripken all-stars were not going down without a fight in front of their hometown fans, beating South Williamson 8-1 on Friday night before Maury County knocked the hosts out of the District 8 Tournament on Saturday.

In Friday night's second round at the Richard Cashion Sports Complex in Lewisburg, Marshall County's bats came alive as they banged out eight hits, including two-hits apiece by Colton Barber (2-3, 2B, RS, RBI) and Andrew Lando (2-3, two doubles, RS, 3RBIs).

Winning hurler

Tyler Wildrick picked up the win on the hill for MC, tossing five innings of two-hit ball before Joseph Freeland finished the job with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

Wildrick gave up one earned run, while striking out five, walking two and beaning one South Williamson batters.

Marshall County scored first, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning with the big blow coming on a two-run double by Lando.

Wildrick gave up a leadoff double to Hunter McCurdy in the top of the second before striking out the next batter.

Important play

After McCurdy advanced to third on a wild pitch, Marshall County center fielder Mitchell Ford came up with the defensive play of the game, grabbing a fly ball for out number two and then gunning down McCurdy at the plate.

The Marshall County stars put the game on ice in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Cameron Ruiz and Barber scored on passed balls, Lando knocked Freeland home with his second double of the contest before scoring moments later on a wild pitch.

South Williamson finally got on the board in the top of the fourth on an RBI base knock by Bradley Tardiff, but Marshall County got the run right back in the home half of the inning on an RBI double by Barber that scored Ruiz, who had walked and stole second.

Fast finish

Wildrick set down South Williamson in order in the top of the fifth and Freeland secured the win with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

Wildrick (1-3, RS, RBI), Freeland (1-2, 2RS, BB), Ruiz (1-1, 2RS, 3SB), and Allonte Watts (1-1) all had one hit apiece for Marshall County.

On Saturday, Marshall County held a 2-0 lead over Maury County in a loser's bracket contest, scoring in the top of the first on an RBI base knock by Wildrick and in the top of the fourth, Freeland crossed home on a passed ball.

In the bottom of the fourth, Maury tied the game on a Cody Huskins RBI double and an unearned run that scored on a Marshall County infield error.

In the top of the fifth, Huskins whiffed the first two MC batters before Barber banged a base hit, but the inning ended on a liner back to the mound.

Big blast

The Maury County all-stars punched their ticket to the next round with a four-run bottom of the fifth, taking a 6-2 before Huskins closed the door on Marshall County in the top of the sixth.

Barber, who swung a hot bat the entire tournament for Marshall County, put up a perfect 3-3 game at the plate, while Ruiz, Lando, Wildrick, and Watts all had a single base knock in the contest.

Maury County would be eliminated in their next contest, setting up the championship game that pitted Lawrenceburg versus Giles County with the Pulaski boys winning the District 8 title with a close 5-4 win.