VHS drubs Forest Hill in debut of ‘Softball Swamp’

Vicksburg High’s Softball Swamp is still a work in progress. A scaffold sits behind the press box. There’s no scoreboard yet, and the lights and center field flagpoles were just recently installed.

After months of hard work, however, it’s finally open for business — and business is good.

The Vicksburg Missy Gators christened their new home Tuesday with a 15-0 rout of Forest Hill.

It was the first official game played at the field on Army Navy Drive. Previously, the Missy Gators played home games at Halls Ferry Park and Bazinsky Park. They hosted a jamboree at the new field — dubbed “The Softball Swamp” — during the spring fast-pitch season, as well as some scrimmages and practices, but not an official game.

The Missy Gators will play another home game there Thursday night against Florence.

“It’s nice to be at home. When you walk out to a fence that your girls built, your girls painted, your girls helped write ‘Gators’ on, you have a concession stand that your parents built, it’s like you just built your own house,” Vicksburg coach Michelle Fisackerly said. “We couldn’t have done this without (fast-pitch coach) Brian Ellis or all of these parents. This is years in the making, and it’s lovely.”

The Missy Gators seemingly couldn’t have picked a better opponent to ensure a happy debut at the Softball Swamp than Forest Hill. They routed the Lady Patriots 26-1 last season, and Tuesday’s game followed a similar script.

Kelsey Lockridge drove in three runs with a bases-clearing triple, and Chelsea Myers delivered a two-run single as Vicksburg sent 16 batters to the plate during a 12-run first inning.

Jazmin Green had another two-run single in the second, and Vicksburg (3-1) finished things off by the mercy rule when Brianna Knox scored from first on an error in the bottom of the third.

Forest Hill committed six errors in the game, including four in the first inning, and issued seven walks.

Warren Central 9, Franklin County 4

Ashley Coley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored as Warren Central beat Franklin County.

Coley’s RBI single in the third inning gave the Lady Vikes a 5-0 lead, and they never trailed in the game.

Megan Stewart had two hits, while Darby Gain doubled, walked and scored two runs.

PCA 15, Rebul 0

Karley Hinson went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs to lead Porters Chapel Academy (8-7, 3-0 District 4-A) past Rebul Academy.

PCA had 13 hits and batted around in all three innings before the game was halted by the mercy rule.

Raylee Barwick was 3-for-3 with two RBIs, Savannah King was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, and Lyndsey Morgan had two hits.

Hannah Embry drove in two runs with a single, and also pitched a no-hitter. Embry struck out six and walked six batters.