By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
T.R. Miller High School graduate Brad Lannom will be one of just 16 players who will be representing the South at next weekend's Alabama Lions Club All-Star Baseball State competition in Birmingham.
Lannom earned his selection based on his performance at a series of All-Star games held at Jefferson Davis Community College the last two weekends.
Lannom had arguably the best tournament of any player over the two weekends, as he did not make an out in a series of games against all-stars from the Mobile, Jackson and Enterprise areas.
Three of Lanom's T.R. Miller teammates also competed in the event, which is for the state's top high school seniors. Kurt Prater, Patrick Sorrells and Joseph Turner also took part. Turner was selected to compete in the second weekend of competition.
In Saturday's opener, Lannom and the Brewton Area All-Stars dropped a 4-0 decision to Enterprise.
Enterprise pitchers Josh Cobb (Northview), Chris Ward (Geneva) and Dustin Herring (Geneva County) combined on a three-hitter.
Enterprise scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the second inning against Kit Powell (Daphne).
Singles by Sean Hogan (Geneva) and Todd Shipes (Northview) set up an RBI single by Herring, a sacrifice fly by Ryan Williams (Northview), an RBI double by Robert Cox (Geneva) and an RBI single by Andrew Lavender (Carroll).
Brewton had a chance to get back in the game in the sixth inning, but wasted a bases loaded situation after a double by Jarod Boyington (Robertsdale) and singles by Lannom and Taylor Files (Gulf Shores).
Lannom walked in his only other at bat during the game, while Turner grounded out in his only plate appearance.
After Mobile Area All-Stars downed Jackson 8-3 in game two, the top players from the four teams were combined into two final teams. Lannom was selected for that game.
In the finale, the combined Brewton-Enterprise All-Stars notched an 8-4 win over the Mobile-Jackson team.
Pitchers domintaed for most of the game, as Brewton-Enterprise had just a 2-1 lead during that time.
Brewton-Enterprise broke
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through in the bottom of the first inning with an infield single by Boyington, a stolen base and an RBI double by Lee Huggins (Baldwin County).
Mobile-Jackson got that run back in the top of the third inning when Clint Toomey (Satsuma) singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a groundout by Scott Mitchell (Citronelle).
Lannom gave Brewton-Enterprise the lead for good in the bottom half of the third inning when his RBI single scored Ryan Williams (Northview) and put his team up 2-1.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth inning when Brewton-Enterprise broke the game open with a five-run rally that extended the lead to 7-1.
Lannom was a key part of that outburst with a two-run single. Boyington also had a two-run single, while Jonathon McKelroy (Daphne) had an RBI double.
Brewton-Enterprise pitchers Chris Ward (Geneva), Powell and Taylor Files (Gulf Shores) scattered five hits through the first six innings before Mobile-Jackson strung together a three-run rally in the seventh inning against reliever Drew Smith (Robertsdale).
Mitchell picked up his second RBI of the game with a single. Brett Henry (Baker) added a two-run single.
Although the outcome was decided, a bottom of the seventh inning was played in order to give players an additional chance to showcase their abilities.
Brewton-Enterprise picked up a final run on an RBI single by Herring.
In addition to Lannom, the 15 other players who were selected to represent the south at state competition included Cliff Downey (Satsuma), Will Cammack (Andalusia), Jessie Luker (Thomasville), Daniel Harper (Monoe County), Jarod Boyington (Robertsdale), Paul Wiley (Mary Montgomery), Colbey Clecker (Gulf Shores), Cody Martin (Bryant), Kit Powell (Daphne), Josh Stapleton (UMS-Wright), Lee Huggins ((Baldwin County), Drew Smith (Robertsdale), Derek Manuel (Northview), Dustin Herring (Geneva County) and Clint Toomery (Satsuma).