VIDALIA, La. &045; Why delay the inevitable?

Everybody knows when Ferriday and Vidalia play each other in anything ranging from football to Twister there’s going to be excitement. Both Dixie Youth Major League all-star clubs will meet up in the first night of the District 5 South Sub-district tournament today in Vidalia.

Not only is there a rivalry at stake, but the two will jockey for prime position on the bracket in the five-team field with a spot in the winner’s bracket final.

&uot;It ought to be a barn-burner,&uot; Vidalia coach Chuck DeWeese said. &uot;But it’s a good rivalry. I think Ferriday beat us last year, and I think many of those 12-year-olds kind of remember that. But we’re focused and ready to go. Our kids are excited and ready to play ball. Hopefully we’ll be ready for them.&uot;

You can probably go with your hunch on who’s going to start for both teams &045; Trey Brashier for Ferriday and Jake DeWeese for Vidalia. The Vidalia team likes its potent lineup &045; Trey Barnes went yard twice in a practice game win over Natchez with one coming up a grand slam in a 9-1 win.

Brashier, however, can bring the gas, but so can DeWeese on the mound.

&uot;We looked pretty good against Natchez,&uot; Chuck DeWeese said. &uot;I expect good things with the bats for us. We’ve got about seven kids on the team that can pretty much hit it out. We’ve got some pretty good 12-year-olds that I’m hoping will step up for us. We’ve got some 11-year-olds that will step up, too.

&uot;We’ve got decent hitting and some pretty good pitching. If they hit like they’re supposed to, we’ll be tough to beat.&uot;

The other side of the bracket includes South Franklin and Winnsboro in today’s first game, and the winner of that contest will face Catahoula on Monday.

Minor League district tournament

FERRIDAY &045; A Vidalia-Ferriday matchup might be harder to come by in the Minor League District 5 South Sub-district tournament at George Perry Field in Ferriday. Vidalia opens at 5 p.m. today against Winnsboro on the top of the bracket, and Ferriday will meet South Franklin in the nightcap.

The winner of the Vidalia-Winnsboro contest will face Catahoula, and the Ferriday-South Franklin winner will earn a spot in the winners’ bracket final.