NEW IBERIA, La. — Rylee Sproles and Maddie Shows came up with key base hits for the Vidalia Nationals 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars in the bottom of the sixth inning as they rallied to upset No. 2 seed Blanchard 8-7 Friday afternoon in the first round of the state tournament.

The Vidalia Nationals struggled to get any offense going for the first few innings before Jaden Boydstun drove in two runs with a triple in the bottom of the third inning. Jessi White came through with two double – one in the bottom of the third and the other in the bottom of the fifth.

Yet it was their pitching and solid defense that coach Bo Sproles said kept the Vidalia Nationals in the game until their bats finally woke up in the latter stages of the contest.

“Jaden pitched three innings. Then we put in Jessi. She went three innings. We were behind for most of game,” Sproles said. “We started hitting the ball (in the final four innings).”

Next up for the Vidalia Nationals is a showdown with Bossier City, the No. 1 seed in the tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. today.

Bossier City 11, Vidalia Americans 6

NEW IBERIA, La. — Speaking of Bossier City, it withstood a grand slam home run by Chloe Smith to defeat the Vidalia Americans 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars 11-6 Friday afternoon in another first-round game at the state tournament.

Defense is what hurt the Vidalia Americans early as they committed a couple of errors in the first inning and Bossier City took advantage of them to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead. But the Vidalia Americans would not go down quietly.

Smith’s big home run helped make it a 9-6 ball game by the bottom of the fourth, but Bossier City scored two runs in the top of the fifth to put a stop to the Vidalia Americans’ comeback bid.

Even though she was charged with the loss, Smith went all six innings and struck out nine batters. She struck out the side in the top of the sixth.

The Vidalia Americans will take on Blanchard at 11 a.m. today.

Vidalia L.L. 13-14s 4, Blanchard 3

VIDALIA — Shelby Mason pitched a complete-game one-hitter and came through in the clutch in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Vidalia Little League 13- and 14-year-old All-Stars rallied to defeat Blanchard 4-3 Friday night at the state tournament.

Actually, it is just these two teams playing in this particular state tournament. And because of that, it is a best-of-three format to determine which one will go on to the regional tournament in New Mexico later this month. Vidalia has a 1-0 series lead.

Mason struck out nine batters and walked just three. She also went 3-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in. Savanna Spear also had a very productive game at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double.

Vidalia entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing Blanchard 3-2 before Haley Sharp led off with a bloop single and went to third base when Spear hit a line drive up the middle for a double. Then Mason hit the ball sharp to right field for double that brought in Sharp with the game-tying run and Spear with the game-winning run.

Game 2 takes place today at 6 p.m. If Vidalia wins, it is moving on to regionals. If Blanchard wins, Game 3 will take place following the conclusion of Game 2.

Merchant Park 19, Natchez 5-6s 15

MAGEE — The Natchez 5- and 6-year-old All-Stars hit the ball well, but too many miscues by their defense allowed Merchant Park to come away with a 19-15 win Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Mississippi Dixie Youth Softball Swee-Tees State Tournament.

Caroline Carlton, Addison Matthews and Vivian Varnado each went 2-for-3 and all three of them had extra-base hits. Carlton had a triple while both Matthews and Varnado had a double.

Kate Harley and Kenya Zuance each went 3-for-3. Emery Cate Lewis and Kessley Maples each were 2-for-3. Yet despite all of that solid offensive production, it was the defense that turned out to be the difference.

“We played good ball. Defensively, we had way too many errors. Defensively, we struggled today,” Natchez 5-6s coach Luke Janette said. “We rallied back within four runs of them coming into the last inning.”

Next up for the Natchez 5- and 6-year-old All-Stars is a 10 a.m. game today against Purvis.

Natchez 8s vs. Carthage postponed due to weather

KOSCIUSKO — The Natchez Dixie Youth 8-year-old All-Stars’ opening-round game against Carthage late Friday afternoon ended up rained out and postponed until this morning.

The game will resume at 10 a.m. today with the score tied at 2-2 with no one on base and no outs in the top of the third inning. Before the inclement weather arrived, Coleman Carter hit a solo home run for Natchez in the top of the first inning.

The Natchez 8s will also have a game against Pontotoc today at 3:30 p.m. and then against Columbia at 6:30 p.m.