Patterson looking to play spoiler role in Franklin

With his team armed with another shot at postseason play, Patterson 10U All-Star coach Nate Samuels said he is looking for his team to play the spoiler role at the AAA Minors Louisiana North Regional in Franklin this weekend.
Patterson will begin play today at 5:30 p.m. against the Shreveport Americans, the District 4 champion.
While Patterson finished third in district after falling in a run-rule contest to St. Mary Central in an elimination game that they thought was their final game, Samuels said he was notified less than 24 hours later that Patterson, in fact, still had more baseball to play.
Because the Southern Regional host does not play 10-year-old baseball, that left three spots to be filled to replace the host and first- and second-place teams from that district.
District 3, which is hosting the North Regional, was given one of those three spots, and Patterson was back in the tournament field.
Samuels said the team is excited for a second chance to play.
In the interim, knowing they will be facing some bigger teams in regionals, Samuels said his team has been working on trick plays in practice.
Samuels, who also serves in a leadership role on Patterson’s Dixie Youth board, said this is the first time in at least five years he can remember a 10-year-old or 12-year-old team making it to a regional.
He agreed that because his team will be faced with just a short trip to Franklin that it will allow them to keep a somewhat normal routine.
In district play, Patterson suffered a close 3-2 loss to St. Mary Central in its tournament opener before run-ruling Thibodaux 10-0 in four innings.
Patterson was eliminated from the district tournament in its next contest, an 11-1 run-rule loss to St. Mary Central in four innings.