NATCHEZ &045; Gill Morris got just what he wanted Thursday &045; a blowout win, a tester and a sweep of district rival Copiah Academy to stay alive in the MPSA 2-3A race.

After taking the loss and getting chased early from a 13-3 first game, Copiah’s Jake Greer came back in the second game to keep Rebel hitters confused with a sharp-breaking curveball, yet still was marked for the ‘L’ in AC’s 8-5 win.

&uot;When (Greer) left in the third inning of the first game, I told my assistant coaches we would see him again,&uot; Morris said. &uot;I didn’t know he’d start. He came out a little more focused and got some confidence when we went three-up, three-down.&uot;

But it all went downhill for Greer, similar to the first game, after the opening inning.

The Rebels (10-7, 5-7 MPSA 2-3A) plated three in the second, but only led 3-2 when Copiah answered in its half of the third with a pair of runs.

But thanks to a towering blast from David Trisler, who was a perfect 3 for 3 in the first game with a pair of doubles, in the Rebels half of the third it was all the support starter and winner Douglas Davis (3-2) needed, despite not feeling well.

&uot;Douglas didn’t have his best stuff tonight because he’s been battling some snus trouble,&uot; said Morris of Davis, who still struck out 10 Copiah batters. &uot;He gave up eight hits and that’s quite a bit for him.&uot;

In the opener Thursday Timmy Foster (3-1) picked up the victory as the game went only five innings because of the 10-run rule.

Trisler was the story, as he got the Rebels rolling in the very first inning with a two-run double to put AC up 4-0 at that point.

&uot;We jumped out on (Copiah) early and had them down off the bat,&uot; Morris said. &uot;We talked before the game about putting pressure on them every inning. When you jump out by a five-run margin it relaxes you.&uot;

Morris said he will give his team the weekend off before coming back Sunday in preparation for Riverfield on Monday.

&uot;We needed two games like these where we could explode and be tested as well,&uot; Morris said. &uot;We’re having fun and people are contributing when called upon and that’s the most important thing.&uot;

Vidalia 13, Oak Grove 0

VIDALIA, La. &045; Looking at Thursday’s score, you would not know that Oak Grove was a Class A state semifinalist last year and the state champs two years ago.

But as the Vikings (19-0) continue to steamroll this season we’re starting to see a squad every team should fear with its balanced pitching and consistent hitting.

Vidalia has now scored double digits in four straight games and put up a total of 67 runs in that same frame.

&uot;We talk after every game to keep all our success in perspective,&uot; Vidalia skipper Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. &uot;Even when we’re up big lately we’ve told them to treat it as if it were 0-0.&uot;

Sophomore Brett Hinson (5-0) got the win and helped his own cause by going 2 for 3 at the plate with a double.

The story was senior Barry Bowden, who not only went 3 for 3 with two dingers and a double, but came on in the fifth to retire Oak Grove (8-6) in order.

&uot;Barry has been hitting the ball pretty steady for us of late and we need him to get hot, especially come playoff time,&uot; Hoffpauir said. &uot;Right now we’re playign good baseball and getting better defensively.&uot;

A perennial Class 2A showdown will hit the west bank Saturday as St. Fredrick’s of Monroe locks horns with the Vikings for just a varsity game at 1:30 p.m. at Viking Park.

Monterey 10, Crowville 9

MONTEREY, La. &045; Phillip Bryan didn’t have his best stuff, according to Wolves’ head coach Hank Zizzi.

But sometimes it’s the scrapiness that gets you wins. That’s exactly how Bryan (8-0) stayed perfect Thursday.

&uot;(Bryan) did what he had to do and fought hard for us,&uot; Zizzi said. &uot;He hung in there and showed pure guts.&uot;

The Wolves’ Ryan Kemp was an unthinkable 5 for 5 with a double and four runs scored, as Monterey scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull of the shocker over the Class 2A Bulldogs.

Monterey (10-4) of Class B got 13 hits overall to Crowville’s (9-5) 12.

&uot;We hung in there tonight and showed a lot of character,&uot; Zizzi said. &uot;To come back and win against a 2A team is a huge morale booster.&uot;