The Slidell Sox, an eight-year old Slidell Bantam Baseball Association Team, erased a four-run deficit, and Sean Price got the game-winning hit, to help the Sox capture the United States Specialty Sports Association All-Star State Tournament 14-13 over the PAC Thunder, located on the Westbank. The game took place Sunday in St. Francisville.

There were 24 teams in the age group and it was coach pitch. The games were one hour long or six innings until the finals where the squads played six innings with no time limit.

Slidell (19-0-1), playing its fourth game of the day, trailed 13-9 after five innings, but the Sox rallied. Ricky Jessup reached on an error to start and then Kyle Rumpza singled.

Pictured are the 8-year old state champions Slidell Sox, who captured the United States Specialty Sports Association All-Star State Tournament this weekend. From left, first row: Branyan Bounds, Sean Price, Mason Jobert, Ricky Jessup, Kyle Rumpza and Dylan Kavanaugh; second row: Brayden Jobert, Christian Garcia, Blake Costello, Preston Matthews and Chris Capdeboscq; third row: Coaches Steve Costello, Jacques Jobert and Drew Bounds; not pictured: Mike Kavanaugh.

After the first out, Branyan Bounds produced an RBI single to make it 13-10. Brayden Jobert then trimmed the lead to one with a two-run double and it was 13-12. Chris Capdeboscq was next and he hit a grounder to third. PAC’s third baseman attempted to get Jobert at the plate, but he slid in safely, which tied the contest at 13-13. That brought up Sean Price with a chance to give his team the lead and he seized the opportunity with an RBI single to right-center field, which turned out to be the game-winner.

“It was exciting because we were up by one and the last time we played them, we beat them by a run,” Price said.

Price added that he thought the Sox could make the comeback.

“We have never had a full loss, just a tie,” he said. “I was nervous, but I thought we could win.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Slidell retired the first two batters before allowing a double, but a pop-up to Blake Costello ended the game.

Sox coach Jacques Jobert said he is proud of his team’s comeback.

“The boys never gave up. They fought through the heat and being out at the park all day long and they just battled,” Jobert said.

Jobert also said making a comeback against that team is a great accomplishment.

“I turned to our assistant coach Drew Bounds (after the fifth inning) and I told him we had a mountain to climb,” Jobert said. “The other team is real good defensively. To put up five runs on them in one inning is a big task. That says a lot.”

For the tournament, Branyan Bounds hit .765 with four doubles. Brayden Jobert batted .765 with five triples and a double, while Costello posted a .706 batting average with an inside-the-park-home run to go with two doubles and a triple.

Slidell came into the tournament at 14-0, but opened pool play on Saturday by tying St. Charles East at 11-11.

Slidell’s second game Saturday was an 11-0 victory over the Legends from Zachary, which gave the Sox an eighth seed heading into bracket play, which was held on Sunday.

Slidell won its first game of bracket play 9-0 over the Terrebonne All-Stars Sunday morning.

The Sox came back Sunday afternoon and defeated St. Charles East, the team they tied to begin pool play, 9-1.

Slidell advanced to the finals with a 17-5 victory over the Baysi Tigers of St. Martinville, setting up the state championship game against the PAC Thunder.