Sibley High School head softball coach Gary Cooper is just glad to be in the playoffs. Never mind the fact his team came within just a few runs of winning District 1-2A.

Sibley visits Vidalia today at 4 p.m. in a first round contest.

Sibley, 18-8, finished fourth in that district this year with an 8-4 record.

&uot;Last year, the top two went and the third team could be a wild card,&uot;&160;Cooper said. &uot;This year they changed it to four or we would be sitting at home.&uot;

The Lady Raiders were two games behind district champion North DeSoto and one game behind the two second place teams.

&uot;We had four teams battling it out all year,&uot; Cooper said. &uot;Most of the games we lost, we lost by one or two runs.&uot;

Cooper, a native of Newellton, La., is in his second year at Sibley.

The Lady Raiders lost to eventual state champion St. Charles 6-2 in the first round last year after finishing second in district.

Sibley is led by senior pitcher Lindsey Allen, who carries a 1.02 earned run average.

Allen, who is being recruited by two junior colleges and some small colleges is also hitting .406 and has four home runs.

&uot;Lindsey has very good control and a pretty good fastball,&uot; Cooper said. &uot;She tends to locate her pitches pretty well. And she helps herself out by hitting the ball, too.&uot;

Junior catcher Rachel Shaw is batting .449 and has six home runs. Sophomore Jennifer Williams is hitting .507 with two home runs.

&uot;We start a lot of young players as far as experience,&uot; Cooper said. &uot;We had five seniors start last year and these kids playing now came up behind them.&uot;

We start four sophomores.&uot;

Vidalia, 21-2, finished perfect in District 3-2A.

&uot;They look real solid,&uot;&160;Cooper said. &uot;I don’t think they have any holes on defense. And everybody in their lineup puts the ball in play.&uot;

Admission to the game is $4.