Auburn 14s earn World Series bid

SELMA — The Auburn Dixie Boys (14s) All-Stars clinched the state title with a 12-2, mercy-rule rout of Hartselle on Saturday.

With the win, Auburn advances to the Dixie Boys World Series in Covington, Ga., which begins Aug. 2. They will face the Virginia state champion in the first game.

“We’re real proud of the boys, they’ve come together and played great defense,” Auburn head coach Allen Deese said. “They’re swinging the bat well and we’re proud of all of them.”

Auburn got things rolling early, scoring eight runs on six hits in the first inning to take a commanding lead.

Landon Sessions and Matt Gregg each drove in three runs for Auburn, with Sessions batting 2-for-3 and Gregg 2-2. Mitchell Roland was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Kyler Deese batted 2-for-3.

Josh Rogers got the win on the mound for Auburn, pitching four innings.

Auburn defeated Hartselle, 8-2, in the first game of the state championship series Friday night.

Roland pitched a complete game, striking out six and allowing only five hits, and was also 2-for-3 from the plate with a home run and two RBI.

Sessions batted 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, Kyler Deese was 2-for-4 with a triple and a run driven in and Tracy Brooks, Connor Mitchell and Pate Howard all drove in runs.