In the finals of the Dixie Youth District 3 Tournament Wednesday, the game lived up the hype of a "championship" type game.  Both teams traded big punches early and exchanged leads, and Pulaski pulled ahead late to beat Blacksburg 7-5.

Pulaski wasted little time getting their potent offense started when they scored a run in the top of the first inning.  After two outs, Trent Blankenship hit a home run just over the out stretched arms of Blacksburg's Grant Johnston to put Pulaski on the board. 

Blacksburg was held scoreless in the bottom of the first, going 3 up and 3 down.

In the top of the second, Pulaski picked up two more runs to pull ahead 3-0.  After an out, Zach Barker drew a walk, he moved to second on a balk, and then Braden Blevins hit a single.  After a 2nd out, Chris Remington hit a two-run double to score Blevins and Barker.  Thomas Anderson would draw a walk, but the Bruins were able to get the next batter out.

In the bottom of the second, Blacksburg would rally by scoring five runs to pull ahead 5-3.  Craig Weaver led off with a single, and then Davis Roberson hit a bomb homer to pull Blacksburg within one with a score of 3-2.  Jacob Lucas kept the rally going with a double down the line and then Wesley McCoy was HBP.  After hitting into a line drive double play at first, creating two quick outs, Blacksburg's Chris Wysocki hit an RBI single, scoring Lucas.  Jared Wulbrun then hit a single, and on two Pulaski throwing errors, both Wyscocki and Wilbrun would come around to score.  Wilbrun's run was a very close play at the plate.  Pulaski retired the next Blacksburg player and the score after two innings was 5-3.

Pulaski quickly responded by picking up three runs to regain the lead 6-5.  Drew Mabry singled, and then leadoff batter Jordan Lytton singled.  Alex Akers hit into a fielder's choice, resulting in Mabry getting forced out at second.  Akers would steal second to get in scoring position and then, Trent Blankenship hit a RBI double to score Akers.  Nathaniel Remington then hit a RBI single, scoring Blankenship.   Blacksburg would retire the next two batters to end the threat.

Trent Blankenship then entered the game for Pulaski and he promptly retired nine out of 10 Blacksburg hitters, striking out three.  Leadoff batter, Jared Madigan, hit a single in the fifth, but was stranded. 

Pulaski would add an insurance run in the top of the sixth, after Alex Akers hit a single, advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Akers, and scored on an RBI double by Remington.  The last four Pulaski hitters were retired consecutively. 

With the win, Pulaski East advances to the Dixie Youth State Tournament to represent District 3.  The O-Zone State Tournament begins on Friday, July 13th in South Boston.

Blacksburg is the District Runner-up and with only three twelve year olds, returns most of its team next year. 

Christiansburg was named winner of the District 3 Sportsmanship Award.