Friday’s Dixie Majors state tournament game between Selma and Opp had a little bit of everything. There was a game tying homerun, costly errors, extra innings and magnificent plays by members of both squads.

In the end, Opp won 6-5 in eleven innings in a ballgame that threatened to continue forever. After four hours of baseball, Opp’s Holt Hall hit a ground ball that was tough to field, resulting in a fielding error that scored the game-deciding run.

“We battled back, battled back. Stayed in the ballgame the whole time. I think the heat finally got us,” Selma head coach Johnny Raybon said. “The boys played hard. The other team played hard too and they won. They came up big when they needed to and we just didn’t.”

Raybon said the game was very dramatic.

“It was just back and forth, back and forth the whole time,” Raybon said.  “Opp has got a really good baseball team. I think we’ve got a really good baseball team, so hopefully we will get a chance to meet them again before the tournament is over.”

Opp scored first by breaking through in the top of the fourth, but Selma answered with three runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.

After scoring a run in the sixth to make the score 3-2, Opp struck again in the seventh. Ethan Davis singled off of Selma relief pitcher Joey Raybon to score Thomas Weed to tie the game at 4-4.  Moments later Opp added another run on a throwing error by Selma catcher Hunter Veach, who was attempting to prevent Opp’s Matt Pierce from stealing second. Veach’s throw was too high and went into the outfield, resulting in Opp taking a 4-3 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, D.J. Woods hit a homerun over the fence in left field that tied the game 4-4. A wacky set of extra innings ensued, as both teams missed golden opportunities to win before Opp finally broke through and held on.

In the eighth inning, both teams were able to bring in runs, pushing the score to 5-5. With the game still tied in the bottom of the ninth, Selma had its best chance to win the game. After being hit by a pitch, Woods was on first base and Carstella Hayes was at the plate. Hayes hit a pop fly to centerfield that dropped due to a fielding error. Since there were two outs in the inning, Woods was running on any contact and as he rounded third it looked like he might score. Unfortunately for Selma, Opp made a tremendous throw to home and Woods was thrown out.

After Harrell scored to give Opp the lead, Selma attempted to rally in the bottom of the eleventh. Leadoff batter Mark Black singled to start the inning, but he was thrown out attempting to steal second base and Selma’s rally was essentially over.

Selma will play again Saturday at 9 a.m. against Southeastern in an elimination game.

“All we can do is go get something good to eat and get hydrated,” Raybon said. “Get a good night’s rest and come back in the morning and be ready to play.”