Sonny Clay was all jazzed up about returning to his old neighborhood, seeing old friends, bringing his new team down and playing some baseball.

He just didn’t know how good Vidalia and some of the other teams in the tournament were.

Clay, however, didn’t hold any grudges when his club left for back for Bridge Creek, Okla., following the three-day Vidalia Invitational tournament which also featured Camden-Fairview (Ark.), led by former ACCS coach Greg Harris.

It was an enjoyable return to the Miss-Lou for Clay, who coached at Huntington from 1992-96 and at Natchez High from 1997-99 before departing for Oklahoma.

&uot;It’s like coming home,&uot; said Clay after his team dropped an 11-0 decision to Vidalia Friday. &uot;I know a lot of people here. When we originally set this up, I didn’t know how good Vidalia would be and what team I would have.&uot;

Harris, however, had better fortunes with his Cardinals, including a game-winning homer to win Friday night after dropping a bout to Vidalia Thursday in his first time to coach against his old friend, VHS&160;head coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir.

Harris coached at ACCS from 1994-99 and led the Rebels to a 28-win season in 1996. He coached twins Doug and Brandon Atkins, now both playing at Troy State.

&uot;I had a good group of kids here and enjoyed it,&uot; Harris said.&160;&uot;I’ve got a lot of friends over here. I look back now and cherish the memories. The kids were special. I think it has prepared me for where I’m at today with rebuilding a program.&uot;

Both Harris and Clay go way back with Hoffpauir either coaching with or against him. Harris coached Legion ball with Hoffpauir, while Clay coached Josh Hoffpauir in summer ball.

Clay knew Hoffpauir when the two played in an adult softball league years ago.

&uot;We’ve known each other for a long time,&uot; Clay said. &uot;It surprised me when he called me and told me. Greg was at ACCS when I was at Huntington, and we played each other a lot of times.

&uot;He told me he was bringing Greg’s team, and that was fine by me until I found out he was a 5A and 9-1. I kept telling him, ‘I’m young, I’m young.’&uot;

Clay eventually left for Bridge Creek since his wife was from Oklahoma and wanted to get back closer to home. Harris, a native of North Little Rock, got a chance to get back closer to home after taking a career turn through Jackson and southwest Mississippi.

&uot;I came down here to coach basketball and baseball,&uot; Harris said.&160;&uot;A JA coach told me about an opening down here. When I got there, they told me we couldn’t compete with Hillcrest and those boys.&uot;

The Rebels competed with all those boys while Harris was there, and while he was there he helped construct the outfield fence at their field. He left for Rossville Christian after ACCS and is now working to build a program at Camden-Fairview.

&uot;We’re trying to build something,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;These kids won five games last year, and we’re 9-2. The kids lost 14 games in a row last year.&uot;

Clay is in the same position, and it was evident Thursday when his Bobcats led 12-3 heading into the top of the sixth before surrendering 11 runs to Winnsboro &045;&160;eight on two grand slams &045; before losing, 14-12.

&uot;I knew I would have a young team, but I wanted them to have experience of playing good teams,&uot; Clay said. &uot;We’ll get better. When you play tough people early in the year, it only makes you better.&uot;

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. You can reach him at (601) 445-3632 or by e-mail at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com.