NATCHEZ &045; By his usual standards, Javon Washington had a bit of an off night.

But don’t tell that to Hattiesburg. Washington still struck out 13 batters and hit the game-winning inside-the-park home run in the third inning.

Natchez beat Hattiesburg 8-6 Tuesday in the opener of the Little League North District Tournament for the local squad. Hattiesburg beat Laurel 8-0 Monday to advance to face Natchez in Tuesday’s game.

Hattiesburg will face Laurel at 6 p.m. today to determine which team will face Natchez Thursday in the tournament championship.

&uot;We have to play Laurel again and if we win we’ll face Natchez, but we’re taking things one game at a time,&uot; Hattiesburg head coach Kenny Fallon said. &uot;We hope we’ll have to play a Friday night game.&uot;

Hattiesburg would have to beat Laurel today and Natchez tomorrow to force a decisive game Friday.

Washington’s performance, both this year and in last year’s tournament, caught the eyes of Fallon.

&uot;They have a great pitcher. It just shows how one player can make a difference in these games,&uot; Fallon said. &uot;He’s a competitor and a hitter and a great pitcher. Last year we faced him in Hattiesburg and we won, but I knew we would face him again and unfortunately we did.&uot;

Natchez head coach Ronnie Brooks Sr. said having Washington is a luxury.

&uot;When you’ve got a pitcher like that it makes it a little easier to coach,&uot; Brooks said. &uot;That’s an all-around player out there.&uot;

Of course, Natchez won’t be able to use Washington again until at least Friday because of Little League rules.

&uot;We’ve got some other guys that are pretty good,&uot; Brooks said. &uot;Either Brian Isaac or Victor Quinn will go and we’ll probably use both. If one’s going fine, we won’t change. We’d pitch Javon again if we could, but either way we’re going to win Thursday.&uot;

In Tuesday’s game, both teams took advantage of a number of walks by opposing pitching.

Washington’s only serious problems in the game &045; which resulted in a five-run third for Hattiesburg &045; came because of walks that put runners on base in front of the heart of the Hattiesburg order.

Washington walked Ricardo Hogan and Trey Jackson to open the third. Then Dada Cook knocked Hogan and Jackson in with a double down the first base line. Woodrow Keys was hit by a pitch.

Hattiesburg’s only other score came in the second inning, when Keys hit a leadoff single and eventually scored on a passed ball after Washington walked the bases loaded. Washington recovered to strike out the next three batters and end the inning without another score.

But Natchez also took advantage of some walks given up by Hattiesburg pitchers Trey Jackson and Josh Townes.

Natchez scored four runs in the second. Keenen McCalister, Rico Cravens and Tradarrius Carter walked to load the bases. McCalister scored on Patrick Wesley’s single and Cravens scored when Jonathan Hawkins reached on a fielder’s choice. Javon Washington singled and went to second on an error that also allowed Carter to score and Hawkins to move up to third. Hawking scored when Alfred Banks, Jr., and Victor Quinn walked.

In the third, Natchez scored four more runs to take the lead for good. Carter singled and move d up on Brian Isaac’s ground out. Wesley and Hawkins both walked to load the bases for Washington, who smacked a drive to right field that bounced all the way to the fence, clearing the bases and allowing Washington to circle the bases for a home run.

Washington allowed only one Hattiesburg baserunner in the final two innings to close out the game for a Natchez win.