IRMO - Everything was basically new for the Newberry Little League Minors (9-10) All-Star team.

The program was making its first district Little League appearance and nearly all of the players were playing on an All-Star team for the first time.

But there was one constant - this team can mash.

Newberry pounded out 13 hits as it powered past Fairfield 18-8 in four innings to open up play in the South Carolina District III Minors Tournament last night in Irmo.

The win moves Newberry into a second-round game against TCFM Gold tonight at 8 p.m. at Friarsgate Park in Irmo. The double-elimination tournament consists of nine teams, with games scheduled until at least Tuesday.

“It was big for them to go ahead and get a win under them,” Newberry coach J.R. Busby said. “Now they've got more confidence, and hopefully we'll come out and swing the bat even better.”

That seems like a tall order after an impressive start to the tournament.

Newberry racked up five extra base hits, including an inside-the-park homer by Zicorius Riley in the second inning. Four Newberry hitters reached base at least four times, including a 3-for-4 effort by Tyjil Brown. Brown singled twice and tripled to right field in the fourth inning. He drove in three runs.

“One thing we knew coming in was that we'd swing the bat. We weren't afraid that our bats wouldn't be working. We were afraid that our pitching wouldn't be adequate. We can swing the bat.”

Newberry was leading 7-5 after two innings, but put the game away with six runs in the third. The big blow of the inning came on a two-run double to right field by Trey Kinard. Fairfield loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, but only managed one run to cut the lead to 13-6 after a pair of runners were called out at home while trying to score on wild pitches.

Newberry added five more in the fourth and held Fairfield to just two runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the four-inning victory.

Taverious Davis was 2-for-3 for the game with three runs scored and an RBI single in the fourth. James Busby was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, while Truquan Dominick drove in three runs and was 1-for-3.

Justin Busby finished 2-for-3 with a run-scoring double in the fourth, while Mac Werts had an RBI single in the first inning. Jaelin Chaplin came off the bench and singled in the third inning.