Vidalia, Monterey host first round games

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 18, 2003

VIDALIA, La. &045; She’s not sure about the rest of her teammates, but Jenny Watson for one is chomping at the bit.

Along with three other Vidalia seniors, this is Watson’s last hurrah for a run in the Class 2A softball playoffs and she’s trying to make sure every Viking takes it game-to-game.

&uot;I’m so ready for it. I want everything,&uot; Watson said. &uot;I know the seniors, and it’s the same for them.&uot;

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The Vikings, district 3-2A’s champ for the third time in Watson, shortstop Heather Miller, pitcher Miranda Doughty and catcher Jaci Deweese’s four years ar Vidalia, will host 2-2A’s wild card team Jonesboro-Hodge either Monday or Tuesday.

Monterey’s Wolves are also joining the mix in the Class B playoffs and welcome in Vidrine, with the first pitch tentatively set for Tuesday.

In his fourth year coaching the Wolves, district 3-B’s queens, Cary Shively is making his third appearance in the postseason.

Yet he is still looking for win No. 1 in the playoffs.

&uot;The both times we made it before we got beat in the first round,&uot; Shivley said. &uot;All of our girls know what’s going on and they have an opporunity to go out and play to what they can make of it.&uot;

The Vikings have not had much of a problem getting out of the bi-district round, it’s been the regional round that has been their nemesis.

Each year Vidalia has won district with its four seniors &045; Watson, Miller, Doughty and Deweese &045; it has failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

Last year Sacred Heart-Ville Platte delivered the walking papers with a 1-0 defeat.

&uot;It’s so important for everybody to try their best because when they’re seniors they’ll try their best,&uot; Watson said. &uot;I would love to win state, but our goal before that is to make it past the second round.&uot;

Thankfully the Vikings won’t have to face Sacred Heart this season until the state semifinals. Provided both teams get there.

Shivley played phone tag with the Vidrine head coach Friday, but neither were able to exchange pleasantries or agree on a time and date.

The Tigers, concidentally from Ville Platte, landed a wild card berth after it finished third in district 7-B.

Vidrine and Glenmore were tied for second and played an epic battle to decide who would finish in that second slot earlier this week.

The Tigers led late until Glenmore prevailed 5-3 in its last at-bat.

&uot;I thought we finished pretty good, by winning six in a row,&uot; Shivley said. &uot;We have to be ready to play ball. Somebody’s going to win and somebody will lose.

&uot;This is the playoffs. Once you get there, anything can happen.&uot;