The Selma Times-Journal

After suffering a 13-0 loss to Auburn on Friday, Selma’s Dixie Pre Majors all stars needed something positive to get the bad taste out of their mouths.

A 3-1 win over host Ozark on Saturday was a good start. Selma’s win was satisfying, albeit frustrating.

Selma out-hit Ozark 10-2 and outscored the team 3-1. Wesley Lawrence earned the win, striking out nine in his complete-game effort.

Selma squandered the opportunity to strike early in the first inning. Shortstop Daniel Blackmon and third baseman Johnny Franklin reached base with two outs to load the bases. But right fielder Reid Fondren grounded out to second base to end the threat.

Selma threatened again in the top of the third. Justin McAfee beat out an infield single, and center fielder Wilbert McConico singled through the left side to give Selma two runners with no outs. But Blackmon grounded a shot to Ozark third baseman John Daniel Peters, who stepped on third and threw to first base for the double play.

Selma came within inches of getting on the scoreboard in the fifth. McConnico reached on an error, and Blackmon singled through the left side. Both moved up a base on a passed ball. Selma left fielder Michael Perryman hit a grounder down the right baseline that was just foul. Michael Boatright was hit in the head, and the bases were loaded again. But Fondren grounded out to Peters to end another Selma threat.

Ozark broke the tie in the bottom of the inning. Centerfielder Taylor West hit a grounder to Blackmon, who underthrew Selma first baseman Ryan Traylor. The ball got by Traylor, scoring Ozark right fielder Mark Schimmer, who reached on a one-out walk.

Selma answered for the win in the sixth when a McAfee single to scored in Traylor and Raymond Eggert.

Selma tacked on another run when Boatright beat out an infield single, allowing McAfee to score.

Pitcher Wesley Lawrence struck out the first two batters before walking Ozark left fielder Wes Snell. He overthrew Traylor on a pickoff attempt, and Snell advanced to third.

Ozark gave Selma a scare in seventh. Lawrence struck out the first two batters walking Ozark left fielder, Wes Snell. He overthrew Traylor on a pickoff attempt, and Snell advanced to third. Blackmon ended the threat by making a sliding catch on a Taylor West grounder, and the throw to first beat him.