BROOKHAVEN &045; It’s been a season of disappointment at Natchez High, but head coach Charlie Williams isn’t going to take it lying down.

Instead of sticking with a senior group that’s spent three or four years in the program, Williams stuck with some young players Saturday in a split at the Brookhaven tournament. The Bulldogs opened with a 12-2 loss to Brookhaven before taking an 18-6 win over first-year program Jefferson County.

In the second game the Bulldogs started freshman Cameron Logan on the mound, and eighth-grader John Mark Henderson pitched the final two innings after Logan went two in the four-inning contest.

&uot;That’s basically what I’m doing &045; playing some of my younger players,&uot; Williams said. &uot;I might as well get ready for next year and give them some playing time. (Henderson) is a decent player. He’s weak right now, which is understandable being an eighth-grader. I hope he puts on a little weight this summer. He’s going to be an outstanding pitcher.&uot;

The Bulldogs (6-15) fared better at the plate in the second game against the Tigers, putting together two six-run innings to end it early. Joseph Hayes drove in two with a triple, and the Bulldogs had 14 hits.

In the first game the Bulldogs lost in five innings, but Matthew Henderson cranked a solo homer in the second for his second homer of the season. They got another in the fifth, but the Panthers got three in the first, four in the second and five in the fourth to end the game in five innings.

&uot;We hit the ball pretty decent that (second) game,&uot; Williams said. &uot;But that’s understandable with who we were playing. They’re starting out. I was thrilled, but it wasn’t good enough. We should be hitting like that on everybody.&uot;

Oak Grove 11, Vidalia 0

VIDALIA, La. &045; The Vikings were on the losing end of a 10-run-rule outcome for the first time in three years, and somebody may have saw it coming.

The Vikings went to West Carroll Parish to face a talented Oak Grove team in their first game in almost a week after Lake Providence was unable to play Thursday. Oak Grove scored three in the first and five in the third en route to a five-inning win.

&uot;Our pitchers pitched behind in the count all day,&uot; Vidalia head coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. &uot;Walks hurt us. We played flat. We didn’t hit the ball, pitched behind in the count and left runners on. We just didn’ get it done. We’re an up-and-down team &045; no doubt about it.&uot;

The Vikings (15-5) had just four hits, and they used four pitchers in trying to put out the fire. Mac Ware started and struggled in 1 2/3 innings before Tony Hawkins pitched 1 1/3 innings. Freshmen Lance Moore and David Watts finished out.

The Vikings got a triple from Chris Ensminger in the third with one out, but Oak Grove starter Tim McIntosh got the next two batters out on pop-ups to end the threat.

&uot;He had a little ol’ average high school fastball and a pretty good curve,&uot; Hoffpauir said. &uot;We played like we’d been off during the holidays, which we have. But we’ll try to get it going.&uot;

Block 8, Bayou Chicot 1

JONESVILLE, La. &045; The Bears got a number of key hits and used a hot bat from leadoff hitter David Jolly to take the non-district win.

Jolly finished the day with two doubles and a triple and scored three runs to lead the Block attack at the plate.

Jolly doubled to lead off the first inning and scored on a ball hit by Rod Sones, and Jeremy Washington drove him in for a quick 2-0 lead.

In the second Jolly doubled and scored on a double by Rod Sones. Ryan King drove in Sones, and Washington singled in King for a 5-0 lead.

King went the distance on the mound, struck out nine, walked none and hit a batter.