As if one’s opponents for the stretch run of the prep baseball season aren’t tough enough.

Up steps the rain.

You know, the stuff that basically held up the start of the season for almost three weeks. Now that the end is almost in sight &045; can you believe that? &045; teams in the Miss-Lou are hoping the rain can just hold off for a little while.

Rain washed out Monday’s action &045; Monterey at Vidalia, Franklin Academy at Huntington, Riverfield at ACCS, Brookhaven at Trinity softball and Block at Vidalia softball.

Now comes the hard part &045; hoping the rain can hold off for action today. The Rebels resume District 2-AAA play at 5 p.m. today against Lamar. Cathedral hosts Bogue Chitto, Huntington hosts WCCA and Centreville hosts Silliman.

If there was any rain Monday night, today’s action may get sacked, too.

&uot;Our field is in fairly good shape,&uot; ACCS head coach Gill Morris said. &uot;We didn’t get on the field, but I was able to walk on it with no problem. But if we get any rain at all (before game time), we won’t play. If it’s going to rain, I wish it’ll come on and rain.&uot;

The Vikings are hoping for the same thing as they will try again to host Monterey at 6 p.m. today. If the rain came through overnight, the two teams will try to go Wednesday.

&uot;I don’t know &045; it looks like we missed it,&uot; Vidalia head coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. &uot;We’ll see what we can do. The field will hold a little water, but if you can dig ditches and get the water off, it’ll dry real quick. We did that this evening.&uot;

The Green Wave hopes to get its game in at 7 p.m. today against Bogue Chitto in an important divisional bout to set up Thursday’s showdown at St. Aloysius.

If rain persists, the game will be pushed back to Wednesday, CHS head coach Craig Beesley said.

A win will put the Green Wave undefeated heading into Thursday’s game at Vicksburg against the Flashes, whose only loss so far in division came against the Green Wave to open the season.

&uot;I’m hoping we’re finally starting to come through,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;We’ve had a long season with the rainouts and everything. I’m hoping we’re going to peak at the right time with the playoffs starting next week. I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting up for Bogue Chitto.&uot;

The Rebels, meanwhile, shouldn’t have a problem getting up for Lamar after they took a sweep of Copiah last week to jump back into the playoff picture. The Raiders have won just one game in district, but no one is overlooking them &045; especially with the Rebels facing Jackson Prep the following week.

&uot;It’s like I told the kids today &045; they’re our biggest obstacle right now,&uot; Morris said. &uot;We can’t look ahead, and they’re the most important games of the year right now. Hopefully we’ll come out focused, pick up these games and take them one game at a time. Then we’ll have a major showdown next week with Jackson Prep.&uot;

If the Rebels can take the sweep, it’ll put them up in contention for one of the four playoff spots out of the district. Right now Hillcrest Christian is all alone in first with Jackson Prep and Parklane behind them.

Central Private is sitting one game back of the 5-7 Rebels.

&uot;Prep still has us, Parklane and Hillcrest to play,&uot; Morris said. &uot;I’d like to include us to say they’ve got their three toughest opponents coming up. Central Private is right there on the bubble along with us. We’re sitting here 5-7, and I’d like to finish 11-7. The ball is in our court, and we’ll try to take care of business.&uot;

The Vikings (20-0) have some big games ahead as action finally begins in District 3-2A Thursday. The Vikings will host Rayville and play at Crowville Monday.

Barry Bowden will likely throw against Rayville and could possible go against Crowville. Mac Ware will go against Monterey today.

&uot;We played Crowville in my tournament and beat them 13-0, but they can beat us,&uot; Hoffpauir said. &uot;I saw Rayville in the Mangham tournament, and they’re a lot like Crowville. Unless we slip up, they’ll battle for second place. Barry did fine (Saturday). We worked on our mound, and he had a hard time adjusting to it. He threw behind in the count, but he didn’t walk anybody. He’s throwing fine.&uot;