NATCHEZ — The playoffs did not begin the way the T.M. Jennings All-Stars baseball teams had hoped.

Despite high expectations heading into the first round of the Little League tournament, both Natchez 9-and 10-year-olds and the Natchez 11-and 12-year-olds fell flat versus their Meridian opponents early Friday.

Meridian 9 & 10s 15, Natchez 9 & 10s 4

The 9-and 10-year-olds dropped their first game to the Meridian All-Stars 15-4 in four innings.

“They came like they were ready, but they gave up in the second inning,” coach Tarvares Letcher said.

“They weren’t moving their feet, they just gave up.”

Although they were the victim of the mercy rule, the game could have gone either team’s way early on.

With the scored tied at two and two runners in scoring position in the top of the second inning, Kavonte Caston singled up the middle to give Natchez a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the second inning Meridian busted the game open.

Meridian tied the game at three after scoring on a passed ball to begin the inning.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Meridian’s D’Angelo Anderson punched the ball into right field, emptying the bases and ending up on third base, giving Meridian a 6-3 lead.

Meridian would go onto score eight more runs.

“The pitchers did alright,” Letcher said. “They just lost control of their pitches.”

Letcher did not want to use the heat as an excuse, stating his team just didn’t come to play, but the coach did say “A lot of them were acting like they were dehydrated, tired and hot, so we had to work that out.”

Meridian 11 & 12s 22, Natchez 11 & 12s 1

The Natchez 11-and 12-year-olds got down early against Meridian and were never able to make the ball game competitive.

“They didn’t come out here to play,” coach Jason Wright said, “ They just didn’t come out here and do anything.”

Meridian took a 3-0 lead in the first.

However, several smooth defensive plays by shortstop Jevier Hawkins and a strikeout by Lamarcus Singleton ended Meridian’s inning.

In the bottom of the first, Sadderius Pollard walked to load the bases. In the following at-bat, a Meridian passed ball scored Natchez’ only run. However, the Natchez base runner advancing from second to third was called out after the catcher picked him off the base for the third out.

In the top of the second inning Meridian plated 18 runs, eight of which came on two grand slams, to seal the Meridian victory.

Wright said his team wasn’t underestimating Meridian’s ability, they just weren’t ready to compete.

“They weren’t better than we expected,” Wright said. “We picked the best team that we had, which isn’t that good. (Natchez) didn’t play the best that they could.

“Meridian played the best that they could.”

Natchez 9 & 10s 12

Hattiesburg 9 & 10s 11

Natchez’s game with Hattiesburg was much closer than their earlier game with Meridian.

Down 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth, Natchez was able to score five runs to take a 12-7 lead.

In the top of the sixth Hattiesburg began to mount a comeback, scoring four runs on Natchez, but relief pitcher Kevonte Caston struck out the final Hattiesburg batter with runners on to end the game and keep Natchez alive.

Letcher said the difference between game two and game one was his team came out focused against Hattiesburg.

“We played better defense, better pitching, better stopping the ball,” Letcher said. “We paid better attention and stayed focused.”

Natchez will play Meridian again at 9 a.m. today.

Natchez 11 & 12s 6

Hattiesburg 11 & 12s 11

Hattiesburg struck early, taking an early 2-0 lead on Natchez.

In the bottom of the second, Natchez got on the scoreboard when Jeremy Smith scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth inning, Hattiesburg extended their lead to 7-1.

The highlight of the evening for Natchez came when Lamarcus Singleton clubbed a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam, bringing the score to 7-6 in favor of Hattiesburg.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hattiesburg scored three more runs to take a decisive 11-6 lead.

Natchez was eliminated from play with the loss.

Hattiesburg will face-off against Meridian today at 9 a.m.