T-N-T (BR) Madyson Guidry, Ashlyn Mitchell, Morgan Shaw, Deanna Rich, Lindsey Chirafis, Jamie Matise, (MR) Kendal Smith, Brixie Gallier, Tatum Kieschnick, Destianey Tompkins, Logan Simon, Savana Guidry, Coaches James Matise, Erik Shaw, Todd Kieschnick, Mgr. John Chirafis, Jason Simon, Jeff Guidry

Nederland T-N-T is Dynamite!

Nederland TNT won the Texas ASA State 8U Tournament this past weekend in Beaumont. 

Nederland T-N-T along with 58 other teams went to the Pixie 8U Texas ASA State Tournament held in Beaumont this past weekend.  The weather was Red Hot as fans from all over the state filled the stands in support of their teams.  Many had dreams of winning a State Championship and the tournament produced a Dynamite winner.

Nederland T-N-T started the tournament with two impressive wins as they shut out their first two opponents and faced their first big challenge against Pearland Power.  Pearland proved to be “Powerful” as they took a 7-5 lead into the bottom half of an International Tiebreaker.  This became the game to watch as other tournament teams gathered to catch the end of this hard fought battle.  Nederland T-N-T scored one run when Madyson Guidry singled home Destianey Tompkins to make it 7-6.  Jamie Matise then hit a 2-run game winning Home Run that sent an Xplosion through the T-N-T fans as Pearland was left Thunderstruck.

T-N-T took some Battitude into the next game as they scored 13 unanswered runs against their District 39 friends the Orange Cyclones.  Orange continued in the tournament and finished in a tie for ninth place.

The stage was now set for two of the top teams in the tournament to battle and stay undefeated.  Dickinson Red Hots Reloaded vs. Nederland T-N-T.  Dickinson is considered the defending State Champions of this age group as they had won the 6U Texas ASA State Tournament in 2004. 

T-N-T started out with a BANG as Lindsey Chirafis hit a Lead-off Home Run to start the game.  Defense was never better in this match-up.  Nederland was only able to scratch 2 more times over the next five innings as they carried a 3-0 lead into the last inning.  Dickinson came out Red Hot, but could only manage one run as the T-N-T “D” finished the game with a 3-1 victory.

Nederland won their next game 5-2 against the always tough Lake Jackson Elite to earn a spot in the Championship game.

Dickinson wasn’t done yet.  The Red Hots completed the long road back to get to the Championship and meet up with T-N-T.   Dickinson now had the task of winning back-to-back games against Nederland to defend their title.  Defense it was as the two teams battled for five innings and only one run had been scored.  Dickinson blew it open in the sixth inning and won the first game of the Championship 6-0.

It would take one more game to determine a State Champion and the Red Hots were ready to reload.  Dickinson jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the fuse was lit for T-N-T.  Savana Guidry ignited the Nederland fans as she hit a 2 run Home Run to get things started for T-N-T.  Logan Simon and Destianey Tompkins crossed the plate that same inning as Nederland took a 4-3 lead.  Dickinson bounced back the very next inning scoring a run of their own and the teams were knotted up at 4 runs a piece.  Defense took over as neither team could score in the fifth and time was running out as they entered the final inning of regulation.

Nederland’s defense held up in the top half of the inning to give the top of T-N-T’s batting order a chance to win it all.  Savana Guidry got it started again as she beat out a close play at first for an infield single.  Logan Simon kept things going with another hit that put runners on 1^st and 2^nd.  T-N-T’s clean up hitter, Brixie Gallier, well… she cleaned up.  Brixie hit a BOMB that landed about 10 yards past an already deep outfield and Savana came home to score the winning run!!! 

Nederland T-N-T is now the 2006 TEXAS ASA PIXIE 8 & UNDER STATE CHAMPIONS!  Great Fans, Rock-N-Roll, Cool Sponsors, Motivational Coaches and a Talented Nederland Team proved to be a Dynamite combination.  Congratulations Nederland T-N-T!!!