NATCHEZ &045; Tom Middleton believes he and his Natchez Rebel League all-star coaches can learn a lot about losing from their players.

No need to scurry around for your eyeglasses, or run to the bathroom sink to put your contact lenses in.

&uot;These kids are unbelievably resilient. Losses don’t usually have a long-term effect on them,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;Once they’re out the gate, they leave everything on the field. Us coaches we sit there and stew on it and ask ourselves what could’ve we done differently.&uot;

Producing timely hits was the answer to inner strife Saturday night after the Rebel League lost, 10-9, in its last at-bat to friendly rivals Natchez Confederate League all stars.

Twice, including the bottom of the sixth, the Rebel League left the bases loaded, and failed to capitalize on opportune situations.

The loss thrust the Confederate League up the mountain at the District 6 West Sub-district Minor League Tournament at Ballew-Bowlin Field.

The Rebel League resumes play against Pine Hills, a 9-1 winner over Franklin County in an elimination game Saturday, today at 7 p.m.

&uot;(Rebel League all stars) hit the ball well, I know that. They’ve got solid pitching, as well,&uot; Pine Hills head coach Denny Hughes said. &uot;They just made a few more mistakes, and at this age that’s the name of the ball game.&uot;

On Friday, it was Pine Hills making all the mental errors when it was handed a 15-3 thumping by the Confederate League.

Pine Hill hitters managed two more hits than the Confederate League (8-6), but on defense it committed four errors.

&uot;I know we were a little jittery that first night,&uot; Pine Hills assistant coach Jay Smith said. &uot;I think we could do a better job against (Natchez Confederate) if we faced them a second time.&uot;

Both teams need all the encouragement and confidence they can muster to pull the rug out from underneath the Confederate League’s magic carpet ride.

A win today means the victor comes back Tuesday needing to defeat the Confederate League twice to capture the championship.

&uot;That’s probably a tough job, but I know we’re going to do our best,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;By no stretch of the imagination have I counted us out. I believe we can win two over (Natchez Confederate) &045; if we can get by Pine Hills. We got to take it on game at a time.&uot;

Rebel League players will receive a little pep talk from Middleton, who will draw from the coach-pitch state tournament some of his players participated in last year in Magee.

There, Middleton’s squad finished third, but watched as Philadelphia upended host Magee twice, which had lost to Middleton’s all-star bunch earlier in the tourney, to defy the odds and stun the home-team partisan crowd.

&uot;I want to show them it can be done. Look at Mize beating Cathedral,&uot; said Middleton, referencing the Green Wave falling to Mize in three games after winning the first of the Class 1A series this past school year. &uot;Both of those teams had their backs against the wall, and came through.&uot;

Hughes echoed Middleton’s words, although not sounding as assuring.

&uot;It’s a tough deal. It can be done. Miracles do happen, but it’ll be a tough road to hoe,&uot; he said. &uot;Sometimes you got to be lucky at the right times.&uot;

One of those coach-pitch players who is on Middleton’s team this year is starting catcher Jamon Gray, who suffered a bruised thumb when a foul ball ricochet of his hand Saturday.

Gray, who also battles a kidney disease every game and every day, is on his third consecutive Middleton-coached club.

&uot;He’s pretty sore. It’s just like hitting your thumb with a hammer,&uot; Middleton said. &uot;But he said he’s ready to go tomorrow. He’s a tough kid, and the kind you want on your team.&uot;

Like his players, as well as the Rebel League fans, Middleton wants another crack at a Confederate League team that has defeated the Rebel League in three games, dating back to the city championship June 20-21.

But the coach knows not to be caught compiling a game plan with a hungry Pine Hills team sitting in the next dugout.

&uot;We watched them Friday night,&uot; Middleton said of Pine Hills. &uot;They’re going to be out there, and there’s no way we can overlook them. We’ve got to get them to get another shot at Natchez (Confederate).&uot;