MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County 12-and-under all-stars scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Thomasville 6-5 in the second game of a playoff series doubleheader on Monday to win the District III championship.

Colquitt now advances to the state tournament in Lyons, where it will try to defend its state championship.

Colquitt and Thomasville won sub-District tournaments last week to meet in a best-of-3 series to determine the District champ.

Colquitt County defeated Thomasville 7-0 in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader at the Magnolia Sports Complex behind the hitting and pitching of Austin Mercer.

In the second game, Colquitt County took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning, only to see Thomasville rally in the bottom of the sixth and tie the game at 4-4.

Thomasville scored a run in the top of eighth to take a 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, however, Andy Bush led off with a double and when Thomasville kicked the ball around, Bush scored the tying run.

Tony Simpson then singled to center and went to second on an outfield error.

Simpson went to second on a wild pitch and moments later scored the winning run on another wild pitch.

Thomasville scored in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead, but Colquitt scored three in the bottom of third. Two of those runs came on back-to-back solo homers by John Gray and Clayton Brown.

Mercer was the story in Game 1, pitching a one-hit shutout and cranking out two home runs.

The only hit the right-hander gave up was a bunt single by Payton Dixon in fourth.

That lone hit put runners on first and second with one out, but Mercer then fanned Steven Kirkland and got Peyton Singletary to bounce to second baseman Andy Bush, who leaped to reach the ball, they made the throw in time to first.

Mercer struck out 11 and walked just three. Adam Choice, who drew a base on balls to lead off the fourth, was the only Thomasville batter to reach third base.

The game was scoreless through four, but Mercer gave Colquitt County the only run it needed when he homered over the center field fence to lead off the top of the fifth.

In the sixth, following a walk to Daniel Mobley and a single by Brown, Mercer took a pitch from Singletary over the left field fence to make it 4-0.

Jonah Bozeman then singled to right and Bush hit one out just inside the foul pole in left to put Colquitt County up 6-0.

Simpson followed with a single and scored Colquitt County’s final run on a throwing error.

Mercer, Brown and Bush each had two hits for Colquitt County. Simpson and Mack Hathcock had the others.

10-and-unders win three

Colquitt County’s two 10-and-under all-star teams went 3-0 in the District III tournament in Cordele on Monday.

The A-team defeated Sumter County 10-8 and advances to meet Thomasville B at 7 tonight.

Wesley Singletary, Houston Massey, Kevin Hall, Joseph Gould and Wheeler Hunnicutt each had two hits for Colquit County.

The Colquitt County B-team won two games on Monday, defeating Mitchell County and Worth County by a combined 29-5.

Colquitt County started with a 20-2 pounding of Mitchell County.

That win sent the B-team to a meeting with Worth County. Colquitt County won that game 9-3.

Colquitt County B will meet the Thomasville A team at 5:30 p.m. today.

The tournament will continue Wednesday and the championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.