A big 12-run fourth inning was enough to seal at least a top five seed for the Vicksburg Patriots in Friday’s opening day of the USSSA 9-year-olds’ State All-Star Tournament.

The Patriots broke open a 2-1 game with the 12-run rally to go up 14-1 after four innings. Picayune came back with five in the top of the fifth but lost 14-6.

The win left the Patriots 1-1 on the day. They lost a tough 8-7 decision to the Madison Diamond Dogs in Friday’s opener of seed play at Halls Ferry Park. The Patriots rallied from an 8-1 deficit to get within a run with the tying run at the plate, but couldn’t pull it out.

Patriots coach Charles Camillo said a deep bench helped his team rebound in the nightcap.

&#8220Tonight’s game showed why it’s important to have a 14-man roster,” Camillo said. &#8220We were able to pull up some kids from the bench and it jump started us in this game.”

The Patriots had the bases loaded twice in the first two at bats against the Picayune Pythons, but netted just two runs.

Finally in the fourth, they took advantage of the game’s first error and four straight walks issued by Python starter Nick Newman.

&#8220Leaving the bases loaded twice and getting just two runs was tough. We needed a jump and we finally got some help in a key situation,” Camillo said.

Lee Middleton and Derek Dolan drew bases-loaded walks and Drake Dorbeck followed with an RBI single to make it 5-1. Zack Cox and Hunter Lyons followed after a line-out with bases-loaded walks to up the lead to 7-1.

Pinch-hitter Mario Doyle then broke it open with a two-run double to score Dorbeck and Cox for a 9-1 lead. Picayune’s second error scored two more and then the Patriots finished the rally with RBI hits from Middleton, Dolan and Dorbeck to go up 14-1.

V’burg Mudcats 7, Brandon 2.

The Mudcats wrapped up a 2-0 day and could be a top three seed when the USSSA 10-year-old bracket is drawn up this morning.

The Mudcats used a five-run third to take a 7-0 lead. Chipper Leech had an RBI double for the big hit.

Steven Busma had a hit and two runs scored. Barrett Teller and Matthew Foley had a hit and a run scored.

Leech went the first two innings on the mound for the win with Mason Jarebea and Jonah Masterson finishing up.

Mudcats 13, Hancock Hawks 9.

An 8-run rally keyed the Mudcats to an opening round win over the Hawks.

Stephen Cialone’s two-run double followed by a triple from Busma and an RBI single from Leech keyed the eight-run rally.

Jonah Masterson got the win in relief and led his team at the plate with three hits. Hunter Bell had two hits while Busma had a single to go with his triple. Alex Thomas had a single and a double.

Oak Grove 24, Titans 1.

The Titans concluded seed play 0-2 and were outscored 57-4. They will be in an 8-9 seed play-in game today.

Madison 30, V’burg Titans 3.

The Vipers scored 21 runs in the first inning and coasted in an opening 10-year-old seed game against Vicksburg’s Prep League All-Stars.

Reed Thames struck out six to gain the win. Baker Hill went 4-for-4 while Matthew Zimmerman scored four runs for the Vipers. The Titans were limited to just one hit.

Madison 8, Patriots 7.

The Madison Diamond Dogs built an 8-1 lead and then held off a late rally to beat the Patriots.

Lee Middleton’s RBI single cut the deficit to 8-5 in the fourth inning. The Patriots got two more in the fifth and then got the tying run tagged out at home plate.

Mario Doyle led the way with two hits and two runs. Derek Dolan was 2-for-3 with a double. Drake Dorbeck took the loss.