Watauga's Little League All-Star team stayed alive in the District 7 Tournament with a 10-1 victory over East Catawba in a loser's bracket game Saturday.

Watauga, which won three straight games after losing its tournament opener, takes on Morganton Tuesday. The start of the game is likely to be 6 p.m., but no definite time was given.

Joey Watson sparked Watauga with two home runs. His first was a towering solo shot in the fourth inning, and his second was a three-run blast in an eight-run fifth inning.

Watson's first home run gave Watauga a 2-1 lead. Watauga's eight run rally started when Devon McGuire reached base after beating out a hit to East Catawba's shortstop, who bobbled the ball and could not catch McGuire at first base.

Jonah Hodges and Garrett Lawrence combined to hold East Catawba to one run. Watauga coach Tommy Gilliam was happy with how his team's defense.

“What was best was how our defense looked,” Gilliam said. “I don't know how many mental lapses we've had. We've had a few times when we really didn't know what to do. Today, we were really a clean, crisp team.”

Watauga lost to Wilkes National in the opening round of the tournament. Since then, Watauga beat Wilkes American, Avery and East Catawba in the loser's bracket.

“I think that if there is a benefit of coming from the loser's bracket, it's you get to play and get on a roll and develop chemistry,” Gilliam said. “There are pros and cons both ways. The winner's bracket allows you to sit and wait, but everybody's rested. It can work both ways. We want to focus on the positive.”