Earlier this week, the Greenville Dixie Youth All-Stars faced something they haven’t seen this season: a loss.

The All-Stars blazed through the district tournament and won the first two games of the state tournament in Lincoln before falling to South Bibb 5-3.

In the first game of the tournament, Greenville topped Grove Hill 2-1.

“It was a sloppy game, and there wasn’t much offense,” said head coach Kenny Burkett.

Greenville only had three hits, but the pitching staff held Grove Hill to only one hit.

“I think both teams were nervous,” Burkett said. “Landon Smothers pitched four innings, and he did real well.”

Smothers had seven strikeouts while giving up a hit and two walks.

Payton Frazier closed the game for Greenville.

In the second game, Greenville beat East Montgomery White 5-3.

“That was a huge game against a good-hitting Montgomery team,” Burkett said. “We didn’t hit well against them either, but there were a couple of clutch hits.”

Coming through in crunch time for Greenville were Dalton Weeks and Matthew Sheffield.

Both Weeks and Sheffield had two-RBI singles.

“Those guys came through with some huge hits,” Burkett said.

The pitching and catching duo was also outstanding, with Ryan Burkett recording 10 strikeouts while giving up two hits, one walk and two earned runs. Frazier also caught the game without allowing a passed ball.

“Our defense didn’t make any errors in that game, and that’s phenomenal for a 12-year-old team,” Burkett said.

The first loss of the season came against South Bibb by a score of 5-3 on Monday night.

“We just weren’t focused,” Burkett said. “We made a lot of errors.”

“We were ahead 3-2 in the third inning, but we made a couple of fundamental mistakes and they took the lead and won,” he added.

That loss puts Greenville in the losers’ bracket with a rematch against East Montgomery White scheduled for Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

“Now our backs are against the wall,” Burkett said.

Results of that game were unavailable at press time.