Rising Neshoba Central senior Beck Williams has college baseball aspirations, and he’s hoping the stage of State Games can help him achieve his goal.

Williams came in as a reserve outfielder during District 4’s All-Star baseball opener against District 2 Tuesday at Meridian Community College. He was hit by a pitch and struck out as he and his teammates were able to take an 8-3 victory over District 2, pitting them against District 5 in Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. timeslot.

“It’s special,” Williams said of playing in the State Games All-Star baseball tournament. “It’s probably the best of the best in Mississippi. It’s a big chance to be able to play college ball. This helps me up my game and helps college coaches see what I can do compared to what college kids do on that level.”

District 4 trailed early, falling behind 2-1 after one full inning of play. It gained the lead and never surrendered it in the top of the third inning when Walker Johnson connected on a squeeze bunt that sent home Jesse Boydston and Nick Sims came home on a throw to second when Johnson attempted to steal second. Johnson later scored to make it 4-2 District 4 after JT Slay doubled him in.

District 2 scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the third when Bailey Jones came home on an error, making it 4-3. District 4 extended its lead back to two runs when Bryce Baddock hit an RBI single to score Drew Pounders.

Al Dumas hit an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning and later scored on an error to move District 4’s lead to 7-2 in the top of the fifth inning. District 4 scored one more run in the top of the seventh, again courtesy of Dumas, who doubled in Dillon Scott.

Tanner Knight of Eupora got the win for District 4 by pitching six innings of three-run ball. He threw a total of 76 pitches.

“The first game was very important for us,” said District 4 coach Jordan Smith, of East Webster. “We stressed that and talked about it as a team before we came out here. It puts us in a big situation to allow guys to play more, and we saved our pitching today thanks to Tanner’s great game. It was huge.”

Naturally, Smith was complimentary of his team’s hitting after scoring eight runs.

“(The bats) were awake for sure,” Smith said. “They did exactly what we asked them to do. The pitchers threw strikes and let the defense play, and the bats hit the ball. They had a game plan going in.”

Smith also said Knight did his part by trusting his defense behind him as he threw.

“He pounded the strike zone,” Smith said. “I told him before that we have an All-Star bunch defensively. They’re going to make the plays. It was crucial for him to pound the strike zone and let his defense play, and that’s what he did.”