NATCHEZ — This week is a critical one for the Vidalia Vikings if they are to win District 3-3A and advance to the state playoffs.

And the Vikings got off to a great start with a 13-2 dismantling of Jena on Thursday night.

Vidalia rapped out 10 hits and got a good pitching performance from Seth Thompson to get the victory.

“We hit the ball real well and got some good two-out hits,” Vidalia coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. “We saw their pitcher the first time we played them (a 6-5 Vidalia win) and we knew what he had. We jumped on them early.”

The Vikings improved to 12-6 overall and 5-1 in district play.

Vidalia got down 1-0 after the top of the first inning, but came back quickly with three runs in the bottom of the first.

Caleb Vines scored on an error for the first run before Seth Barlow scored on a wild pitch.

Jamal Davis gave the Vikings a 3-1 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Vidalia added on to its lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a big hit from John Brixey.

After Trey Lillie drove home the fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly, Brixey hit a towering fly ball over the right field fence for a three-run homer that gave the Vikings a 7-1 lead and basically put the game away.

Vidalia added on to its lead with five more runs in the bottom of the third inning.

After the Vikings loaded the bases with one out, Nate Bozeman scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

Barlow then hit a two-run double to make the score 10-1 before Thompson hit and RBI double and Brixey drove in Thompson with a single to give Vidalia a 12-1 lead.

Vidalia scored for a final time in the bottom of the fourth when Bozeman drove in a run with a groundout.

Jena scored a run in the top of the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going, as it was called due to the 10-run mercy rule.

In addition to Vidalia’s impressive performance at the plate, Hoffpauir was pleased with Thompson’s performance on the mound.

Thompson gave up just three hits and one earned run in picking up the win.

“Seth Thompson pitched a real solid game,” Hoffpauir said. “He has really stepped up for us.”

Vidalia will have one day off before it plays Buckeye on Saturday in another crucial district game.

“We can’t pat ourselves on the back too long,” Hoffpauir said. “We’re halfway through the district and our destiny is in our hands. But it’s no time to relax. Saturday is another big game.”