Natchez High and Cathedral did not get off to the best of starts at the Natchez Baseball Tournament Saturday at Liberty Park.

However, it was just the opposite for the Vicksburg High Gators, which returned most of its players from the last two years.

In the first game of the day, Vicksburg staved off a furious rally in the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat Franklin County 9-8.

The Gators scored two runs in the fourth and four more in the top of the fifth for what seemed to be a big lead, 9-3.

However, Franklin County scored five runs, four unearned in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to one off two relief pitchers.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Stokes (1-0) picked up the win for Vicksburg, giving up only one run on three hits and striking out five batters.

Colby Beach was the losing pitcher for Franklin County, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out two.

In the second game, Franklin County defeated Natchez High 8-1 behind the pitching of Greg Williams.

Williams, the winning pitcher for Franklin County, gave up one run and two hits while striking out five through four innings.

It was not a good game for Natchez High on the mound and at the plate.

Natchez’s only two hits came on an infield single by Calvin Jackson and a double by Leon Stewart in the third inning, which scored Jackson.

Losing pitcher Lance Harveston and reliever Nolan Coward, who was playing center field until the fourth inning, combined to give up five runs and seven hits.

Natchez High, starting shortstop

Brian Kossum turned his right ankle after making a spectacular catch in the outfield to end the top of the fourth inning.

In the third game, Vicksburg scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to cruise to a 12-2 win over Cathedral.

The Gators got a huge performance from winning pitcher Robby Goodson, on the mound and at the plate.

Goodson gave up one earned run on four hits, struck out nine and had six runs batted in.

Goodson scored J. J. Brown on a sacrifice fly in the first, hit a solo home run that went nearly 440 feet to right center field in the third, and hit a grand slam homer in the fourth.

Cathedral did not score until the top of the fifth when shortstop Ben Eidt scored on a passed ball and center fielder Chris Morris scored on a Stephen Edwards single.

Vicksburg’s Boo Hardy came on in relief to get right fielder to ground out to first to end the rally.

Steven Bush took the loss for Cathedral, giving up one run on three hits and striking out four.