The Big Stix, based in McDonough, scored first in that contest, with Ryan Peurifoy drawing a base on balls, then Ryan Blanton hit an RBI double to score Peurifoy. Mitchell Hammonds, NBS starter, gave up another single, then fanned the next three batters.
NBS struck back in the bottom of the fourth with a single by Brett Whitfield, followed by an Austin Walker walk. Brandon Etheridge laid down a bunt single to load the bases and a sacrifice fly to right field by Alex Bahr scored Whitfield, tying the game at 1-1.
In the fifth, Hammonds recorded another strikeout while NBS's defense got out of the inning with a double play.
Justin Finan relieved Hammonds in the sixth and struck out the first two batters and got out of the inning without allowing a score. In the bottom of the sixth, Erik Lusk hit a two-out single for NBS, but the team was unable to get him across the plate.
In the seventh, Big Stix started with a single, but NBS's Finan struck out the next two batters. Jeremy Gore with Big Stix then hit an RBI single to score the game's winning run. NBS tried to answer in the bottom of the frame as Alex Bahr notched a hit single, but he could not get across the plate and the final score remained 2-1.
Hammonds and Finan scattered seven hits and combined for 12 strikeouts for NBS 16s. Demetrius Woods gave up five hits and recorded five strikeouts.
Offensively, Austin Walker, Brandon Etheridge, Alex Bahr, Brett Whitfield and Erik Lusk had hits for NBS 16's.
The next competition for NBS 16's is the Perfect Game 16U WWBA National Championship July 16-July 22 at Cass High.
The NBS 16s include four Bartow County high school baseball players: Brandon Etheridge, Cass; Luke Patterson, Woodland; Dylan Williams, Cass; and Chaz Wilson, Cass.
Patterson, a Woodland High junior, led the team in batting with a .429 average, including 38 singles, six doubles, one triple, 27 RBI's, 25 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. On the mound he was 3-4, recording 38 strikeouts with a 4.16 ERA.
Etheridge, a Cass High sophomore, led the team in stolen bases with 23 and triples with two. He was credited with 16 singles, four doubles, 11 RBIs and 25 runs scored. He also recorded two saves as a pitcher, with a 3.0 ERA, and played center field and short stop, with 37 putouts, 21 assists and two double plays.
Williams, a Cass High junior, notched a 3-1 record on the mound. Williams had the lowest ERA on the team with 1.59 and 38 strikeouts. He also contributed offensively with a .257 batting average, including 16 singles and two doubles. In the outfield he was credited with 25 put outs and seven assists.
Wilson, also a Cass High junior, earned a 2-2 pitching record with a 4.10 ERA. As catcher, he gunned down eight runners trying to steal. He was credited with a .292 batting average, hitting 17 singles, four doubles and 17 RBI's.
The team is managed by Brian Nelson. Head coach is Jarrod Brown and assistant coach is Grant Youngblood. NBS 16's went undefeated, 5-0, to make it to the championship game at Turner Field.
Games at Cass
They kick off Perfect Game tournament play at Cass this weekend.
NBS plays Saturday at 11:30 a.m. vs. Florida Bombers; Sunday at 4:30 p.m. vs. Sacramento Bandits; Monday, 2 p.m. vs. Hitting Zone; Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. vs. Farrah Builders; and Wednesday at 2 p.m. vs. Marucci Elite 16s Louisiana. Games Thursday and Friday will be determined.
--Cristi Etheridge contributed to this article.