[08/02/03] The Vicksburg Angels’ previous two tournaments at Halls Ferry Park ended with quick exits.

The team of 9-year-olds made sure that wouldn’t happen again in this week’s Governor’s Cup.

The Angels cranked out 14 hits and used a 13-run third inning to bomb the Culkin Bulldogs, 21-2.

“We’ve been struggling,” said Johnathan Clay, whose cousin is former Chicago Cubs center fielder Roosevelt Brown. “Last weekend, we went out in like three games and we didn’t want that to happen again. This weekend we’re coming out to win it all.”

The Angels, who played in the 9-10-year-olds’ bracket last week, were scheduled to play the Delta Sluggers at 10 this morning, and again at 6 p.m. against the West Lauderdale All-Stars. The Bulldogs are set to play at noon against West Lauderdale.

“This was a big confidence boost for us,” Angels coach Calvin Masterson said. “Our defense, pitching and hitting all did really well today. Hopefully this will get us in a groove.”

Josh Eargle led the 14-hit attack with a pair of singles and four RBIs, while Clay had a three-RBI double and a single. Cody Waddell belted two singles and had two RBIs, Travis Barnett had two singles and an RBI, Clyde Kendrick registered a two-RBI single and Matt Mims had a pair of hits and an RBI.

The Angels scored five runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. They added three runs in the second for an 8-0 lead before Culkin scored its only two runs.

In the top of the third, Blake Hughey and Tyler Comans walked to start the inning and scored on a single by Michael Whitley. It was one of three hits off of two Angels pitchers. Zach Boyd and Hyden Anthony each hit a single in the loss.

Leading by six, the Angels sent 16 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third. The first 11 batters in the inning scored as the Angels went up 19-2.

“We played them before when they were 8-year-olds,” Clay said. “It’s really important that we play well.”

Miss. Mudcats 9, Brandon 8

The 8-year-old Mudcats scored six runs in the top of the fourth and held off a dramatic rally by Brandon.

With two runs home already in the fourth, Brandon had runners on second and third with one out.

Matt Smith, pitching in his first game, struck out Tyler Rhodes and got Tyler McCoy to ground out to first base for the final two outs.

In the top of the inning, Drew Newquist walked with the bases loaded to bring in Jacob Taggart for the winning run.

The Mudcats face the Louisiana Riverdogs at 2 p.m. today at National Field.

W. Lauderdale 13, Delta Sluggers 13

The Delta Sluggers scored seven runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game, and it remained that way through the fourth. Cody Anderson had three hits and two RBIs, and Brandon Robinson had two hits and three RBIs to lead West Lauderdale.

For the Sluggers, Josh Wooley had a pair of doubles and two RBIs.