Bottom row, from left: Tyler Nix, Colin Loosier, Chase Hittle and Hogan Jones. Middle row, from left: Cooper Cochran, Adam Benefield, Lane Killian, Brennan Williams, Jacob Leigeber, Luke Woodruff Top row, from left: coaches Kyle Hittle, Tom Killian and Brett Nix. (Contributed)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – A local 11-under traveling baseball team can now lay claim to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) title in the state of Alabama after a weekend tournament from June 6-7.

The Madison Lightning, playing in Cullman on those dates, took down six teams over the weekend to hoist the championship trophy. The team played opponents from all over the northern part of the state in the tournament, including the Vestavia Vipers for the second contest of the day.

Coach Brett Nix relived the harrowing 12-11 win over the Vipers, which ended with a walk-off double by Jacob Leigeber that scored Lane Killian from second base.

“Up and down the lineup the boys hit very well,” Nix said. “I’m proud of the way they played.”

The daunting Saturday slate provided four teams between the Lightning and the title. The Lightning’s hitting struck first, with a 12-9 win over the Hurricanes. The high-powered offense from the Lightning continued to shock the rest of the teams, as the team posted wins of 15-9, 18-3 and 12-1 to win the championship.

The team will stay together and will regroup for more competition in the fall, Nix explained, when the team will “age up” into the 12-under division.

“We decided to go out on a high note,” Nix said.

Nix also noted that the team was without its primary catcher and had several other players not 100 percent, leading to more contributions from some of the other players.

“Hogan Jones and Adam Benefield really stepped up [that] weekend,” Nix said.