[07/26/02]Sixty-four teams, one championship on the line, one would be led to believe it’s March Madness.

Instead, it’s the 11-and-under Super Series World Series kicking up dirt in Sherwood, Ark., and a Vicksburg team is in the hunt.

“We went down to Pensacola and played the team that finished number two last year (in the Super Series) and beat them,” Vicksburg Oilers coach Sam Haas said. “We play together, we can beat just about anybody we play.

“But we’re going to find out. It’s going to be a new world.”

Pool play will begin Saturday. The teams will be divided into groups of four, then ranked by the success of the three games played within that pool to determine seeding in the 64 team bracket.

The Oilers will bring a “good hitting team” into the tournament, led by Trey Prentiss, who is hitting a gaudy .670 with four home runs.

“I believe in this team,” Prentiss said. “We’re a good team. Sometimes we fall behind because our defense is kind of off, but our hitting is awesome.”

Defense is the main concern for Haas.

“We’ve practiced on defense for four straight days,” he said. “So, hopefully, we’ll be ready when we get there.”

“Play ’til you get the third out,” Prentiss said.

The problem with the defense, Haas says, is that the team’s confidence in their offensive prowess distracts them from the defensive side of the game.

“We don’t tend to stay as focused when we’re out there,” Haas said. “I guess they’re so used to being able to score a bunch of runs, it doesn’t get them down when they give up a few.”

The Oilers should know their teams capabilities, experience is on their side.

“These are a good group of kids that’s been together since they were 9 years old,” Haas said. “They’ve been playing a lot of baseball and getting better.”

One of the best aspects of the Oilers squad is their pitching aces, Jonathan Sweet, Joseph Brown, and Keaton Sanders, who has a no-hitter on his resum from his play with the Vicksburg Heat in the Cal Ripken Tournament earlier this month.

Haas concedes that when the Oilers come together as a unit, they will be tough to beat in this weekends tournament.

“If we play ball as a team, we’ll be there.”