JONESBORO, La. — With their season on the line, the Vidalia 7- and 8-year-old All-Stars had to beat Evangeline Tuesday afternoon at the machine pitch state tournament to force a second game.

Part one of that scenario worked out for Vidalia as, in a high-scoring game, it defeated an Evangeline team that went into the finals undefeated and needing only one win 17-11.

What is interesting about the finals of this tournament is that the deciding game with the state championship on the line does not take place immediately after the completion of the first game on the same day.

Instead, Vidalia and Evangeline will have to wait until 6 p.m. today to take the field against each other.

“The girls came out ready to play. They really started to hit the ball,” Vidalia 7-8s head coach Mike Bowlin said. “They hit the ball as well as they have all season.”

Lexi Maynard had the big hit of the game for Vidalia with an inside-the-park grand slam home run. Maynard went 3-for-4 at the plate and Casey LaRue was 3-for-3 to lead their 24-hit attack. Among those who had two hits were MaKayla Morace, Hannah Nunnery, Heidi Zimmerman and Cheyenne Morace.

“They’re peaking at the right time. And I’m proud of them,” Bowlin said.