The decision to bolt the chill of Illinois for the sunny South came easy for Kishwaukee College coach Josh Pethoud.

Three feet of snow will do that to someone.

&#8220This is the first time we’ve actually been outdoors,” Pethoud said after his Kougars played Bossier Parish, La., in their first game of the season during the Wes Cliburn Classic, a four-day tournament played exclusively at Bazinsky Field in Vicksburg.

&#8220We’ve had a very cold winter with a lot of snow. There are still some big snow banks at the school.”

Weather aside, Pethoud said the primary reason he brought his Kougars back to Vicksburg was Hinds Community College coach and Warren County native Sam Temple.

&#8220Coach Temple is the sole reason why we’re back. He’s a quality guy and he’s trying to make this into a quality event. We’re glad to be back,” Pethoud said.

And this time, Kishwaukee is not the lone Midwest team in the Cliburn Classic field. Wabash Valley College out of Mt. Carmel, Ill. joined the field this year. Teams from the North traveling South to play baseball are commonly referred to as snowbirds.

&#8220The Kishwaukee coach had mentioned this tournament to me and I contacted Coach Temple and we came down,” said Wabash Valley coach Rob Fournier. &#8220They’ve done a phenomenal job. They’ve treated us great.”

Part of that great Southern hospitality was given by four Vicksburg hotels that stepped up and provided Kishwaukee, Wabash Valley, Bossier Parish, La., and Baton Rouge Community College some complimentary rooms.

&#8220We’ve been here since Tuesday,” said Fournier, whose Warriors were housed at the Ameristar Casino hotel. &#8220We were given two comp nights and a free breakfast, we’re very grateful.”

Putting the hotel rooms together along with goodie bags for the players was the work of the Vicksburg Tourism Bureau.

&#8220This is our first time to handle baseball teams,” said VTB’s Ashley Garner. &#8220This is a new market for us.

&#8220Our hotels were very accommodating. We were able to get the teams rooms at the Ameristar, Diamond Jacks, Cedar Grove and the Jameson Inn.”

&#8220Our hotels stepped up because they see the residual effects from the parents staying over as well as some (college and pro) scouts,” added the VTB’s Kristy Patton.

Unlike Kishwaukee, which flew down, Wabash took the bus.

&#8220It was about an eight hour bus ride here. We came down early because we played a doubleheader on Tuesday in Dyersburg, Tenn., and then had two more games at Copiah-Lincoln on Wednesday,” Fournier said.

The Warriors beat Co-Lin and Mississippi Delta at Wesson and then came back to Vicksburg Wednesday night to rest up for the start of the Classic on Thursday.

This is Wabash’s second trip to Mississippi this season. They started the year at Meridian Community College playing four games there. They then went back to Mt. Carmel to open a seven-game homestand.

Since this is Wabash’s spring break, Fournier put together a weeklong trip.

&#8220We‘re glad to come back south because its been extremely cold. This year’s been horrible. We’ve had to play some games in snow flurries,” Fournier said. &#8220No doubt we’re excited to be here. This is our spring break.”

Another added benefit for the Illinois teams to come to Vicksburg is being able to compete on nearly equal terms. Instead of having to play all their games as visitors, the Illinois teams get to meet teams on a neutral field.

&#8220That’s what I love because usually on these trips, you don’t get to be the home team and you’ve got to play with their umps. But that’s what great about this is that we’ve had very good umps and we’ve gotten to face some really good teams,” Fournier said.

Kishwaukee flew into Jackson Thursday and has been lodged at Cedar Grove, a posh bed and breakfast.

&#8220It was big help that they put us up in some fashion,” Pethoud said.

The Kougars didn’t seem to mind the local legend that the place is haunted.

&#8220That’s OK,” Pethoud said of the Civil War-era mansion.

&#8220It’s probably my room,” chimed in the Kougars’ third baseman in Scott Schmitt. &#8220I kept seeing this white cat.”

Hinds, the host team which sports six Warren County players, finished the tournament on Sunday with wins over Kishwaukee and Baton Rouge.