[7/31/03]The Vicksburg Explosion softball team won its opening game 10-6 against the Massachusetts Diamonds in the 16-and-under Class-B Eastern National Tournament at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland on Wednesday.

The Explosion were set to play again today at 11 a.m. against the Bama Cobras in the second game of pool play.

“These games mean something because the determine how you get seeded for the next round,” Explosion head coach Rhea Fuller said. “But the other games after that mean even more for us because they determine whether you stay in the winner’s bracket.”

The Explosion, who won the Rumble on the River tournament in Vicksburg on June 13, will find out where they are seeded this afternoon, following the last pool-play game.

Against the Diamonds, the Explosion jumped ahead early for a 6-0 advantage before allowing the Massachusetts team to cut the lead to 7-5 heading into the sixth inning. Vicksburg quelled the comeback by scoring three runs in the top of the inning to seal the win.

“We played well out there for our first game,” Fuller said. “We did a lot of the little things it takes to win, like laying down bunts and running the bases.”

Warren Central’s Brittany Fuller went four innings for the Explosion to get the victory. St. Aloysius’ Laura Beth Lyons, the 2003 Vicksburg Post Softball Player of the Year, finished the final two innings for the save.

Abby Dennis hit a home run to lead the Explosion hitters. Lisa Ainsworth also added two hits in the win.

River City Renegades

win two at Nationals

The River City Renegades softball team won two of their first five games in the American Fastpitch Association 18-and-under national tournament in Beaumont, Texas.

The Renegades were scheduled to play their next game today at 9 a.m.

In the opening game, River City lost 6-0 to American Pasttime of California. American Pasttime scored two runs in the second inning and four in the third.

The Renegades bounced back in game 2 with a 1-0 defeat of Oklahoma Sooner Magic.

Libby Denney pitched a five-hit shutout, and Brittany Wright singled in the game-winning run.

Wright continued her clutch performance as she hit a walk-off single to lead the Renegades to a 5-4 victory in their third game against Orange Crush of Texas.

With time expired and the score tied at 4, Wright ripped a shot to right field to send in Shannon Arnold for the win.

The Renegades lost their fourth game 2-1 to Royal Purple Gold of Texas.

RPG scored two runs in the top of the first and the Renegades could muster only one run in the third.

On Wednesday, the Renegades were held to one hit as they dropped their match with Texas Sting 12-0.

The Sting sent 16 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning for nine hits and three walks.