VIDALIA — Hit the ball in the taped off area, and the batter gets two bases.

Those are the rules put in place by the Vidalia Dixie Youth league concerning some one of its fields that seepage water from the Mississippi River flood has made its way onto. And the league’s tee ball players get to work around it — or right in the middle of it.

Brad Burget, head coach of the ages 3 to 6 Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office tee ball team, said a ball hit into the restricted area means a fielder cannot make a play.

“If the ball goes beyond the yellow tape, it’s a ground-rule double,” Burget said. “Usually a coach goes to get it (if it goes in there), because the grass is kind of tall for the players to get into.”

Assistant coach Jimmy Watts said he makes sure to tell the players not to go into the seepage area if the ball does fall into play there.

“My understanding is water is still out there, so we don’t want them out there, as much as they’d like to be out playing in it,” Watts said.

And it’s no secret to Watts that his players want to go playing in the mud, he said.

“Absolutely they do,” Watts said. “That’s the purpose of the coaches being in the outfield, to keep an eye on the boys. Kids will be kids, and it’s a full-time job trying to keep their attention.”

Watts’ son Trey, 6, said he has hit the ball in the taped-off area before, but he doesn’t really want to go out there, he said. But it’s not because he’s scared of finding something funny in the mud.

“There’s nothing creepy out there,” Trey Watts said.

Watts’ teammate, Hunter Weatherly, 4, wasn’t quite as sure.

“When I stood on first base (one time), I saw something creepy come out of the dirt,” Weatherly said. “I didn’t know what it was, but I think it was a crab. I never went to look for it, though.”

Weatherly said he wouldn’t mind going into the mud just for the fun of it.

“I’d go get muddy (if they let me play in the taped-off area),” Weatherly said. “I get muddy every day. I like to get in the mud — it’s fun.”

Jimmy Watts said the focal point for his team has been teaching the basic fundamentals for both new players and players that are ready to move up to coach pitch.

“We teach them to stay in the batter’s box and make a level swing,” Watts said. “And always keep your eye on the ball.”

Trey Watts said he likes to hit home runs, which he does by simply hitting in and continuing to run until he gets home, he said.

“I have probably six home runs (this season),” Trey Watts said.

Jimmy Watts, though, corrected his son.

“He’s hit more than that,” Jimmy Watts said. “He averages about three a game.”

Vidalia Dixie Youth wrapped up its regular-season games Thursday evening.