For Warren County softball players used to hitting the road on various travel teams during the summer, tonight and Saturday will be like a family reunion.

All games played

at Warren Central

Today

5 p.m. – Vicksburg vs.

Greenville-St. Joe

6:30 p.m. – Warren Central vs. St. Aloysius

Saturday

9 a.m. – Brookhaven vs. Vicksburg

10:30 a.m. – Mad.-St. Joe vs. St. Aloysius

Noon – Greenville-St. Joe vs. Brookhaven

1:30 p.m. – W. Central vs. Madison-St. Joe

3 p.m. – Fourth place game, teams TBA

4:30 p.m. –  Third place game, teams TBA

6 p.m. –   Championship

Vicksburg, St. Aloysius and Warren Central will be the center of what promises to be a great two days of softball at the Warren Central Invitational.

“We’re really lucky to get all three local teams in the tournament,” WC coach and tournament organizer Dana McGivney said. “The last two teams we added at the last minute, Brookhaven and Madison-St. Joe, are pretty good too.”

Greenville-St. Joe is the other team participating in the six-team field. The action will be fast and furious as the games, save the championship, will be limited to one hour and 15 minutes.

One thing that might dampen the tournament is the forecast, which calls for rain tonight and cold temperatures on Saturday. If that happens, McGivney said she will adjust the schedule and play the missed games on Saturday. A possibility might be starting the action on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Pool play will wrap up on Saturday and the consolation games will start at 3 p.m.

As for the county representatives, the three local teams come into the tournament on a high note.

The host Lady Vikes are rolling on a four-game winning streak, thanks to a balanced offense and solid pitching.

“We’re really hitting the ball well,” McGivney said. “Our team is getting along well and having a good time playing the game.”

Catcher Mandy Fuller, who drove in four runs in a 6-4 win over Brandon on Tuesday and Chasity “Sissy” Hearn, who blasted a game-winning two-run homer last week against Lawrence County, are showing the way offensively for WC (6-2).

“It isn’t just one person getting the job done for us offensively,” McGivney said. “We’ve got different people stepping up and getting the key hits at the key times.”

St. Aloysius is also rolling with a 4-1 start to the season, including the championship at the Catholic Tournament the Lady Flashes hosted on Feb. 21-22. Sarah Franco is both St. Al’s ace pitcher and leadoff batter, while Mallory McGuffee led the county last season in hitting and was the spark that ignited an eight-run first inning on Tuesday against Raymond with a two-RBI double.

Vicksburg (1-4) comes into the tournament after picking up win No. 1 against Yazoo County, a 14-2 romp. Claiborne Bryant is the primary offensive catalyst for the Missy Gators (1-4), while Kristi Shelby is their top hurler.

*

Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.