By Myra Bean

There is nothing worse than playing in sweltering temperatures over 100 degrees than losing in those same temperatures.

J.P. Hudson was the setting of the 6 and under and 12 and under softball tournament with 13 total teams vying for the two top awards.

The 6 and under Batesville Bullets and the 12 and under Batesville Bling both exited the tournament earlier than planned.

6u Bullets

The Batesville Bullets went 1-2 in the double-elimination tournament. They started the tournament Thursday against Southaven, squeaking by with a 20-19 win.

The game was tied at seven going into the third. Southaven scored two runs but held the Bullets to one run for the 9-8 lead. Both teams scored five runs in the fourth for Southaven to maintain the one point lead, 14-13.

The Bullets’ defense held Southaven scoreless in the fifth, but the Bullets offense scored the maximum allowed five runs to take an 18-14 lead. In top of the sixth, Southaven pulled ahead 19-13 by scoring five runs. Batesville only had to score two runs for the win. With runs by Ava Jay Williams and Ivy Gibson, the Bullets claimed the win.

The tide turned on Friday. Batesville lost to Senatobia 20-17 and dropped to the loser’s bracket. Therefore, they had to play another game Friday night against Hernando who had lost to Southaven.

This time, the Bullets came up one point short, losing 19-18. In top of the sixth, the Bullets tied the game at 18 on a RBI single by Faith Trevino who drove home Gibson.

Hernando just had to score one run for the win in bottom of the sixth.

12 u Batesville Bling

The Bling struggled with fielding balls on defense which set up runs for their opponents. The Bling went 1-3 in the three-game elimination tournament.

In game one against Greenwood, Thursday, Batesville fell 15-4 in four innings.

The Bling’s second game Friday afternoon against the Pontotoc Smashers was closer. They went into an extra inning tied at 10. Batesville scored one in top of the seventh while Pontotoc scored two for the win in the bottom of the frame, 12-11.

Getting hits for Batesville were Taylor Utz, 1-for-4, three runs; Lena Grace Franklin, 1-for-4, three runs; Chloe Morgan, 2-for-4, one RBI, two runs; Morgan Booth, 2-for-4, one run, two RBIs; Carleigh Williams, 1-for-4, one RBI, one run; and Taylor Barton, 1-for-3, two runs.

In a do or die third game, the Bling run-ruled Hernando Khaos 18-7 in five innings.

Booth hit a two RBI double in the first inning to get the Bling going. Then, Booth scored on a single by Williams to take a 4-0 lead while the team held Hernando scoreless in bottom of the frame.

The tables were turned in the second inning as Hernando scored three runs while holding Batesville scoreless to pull within one, 4-3.

In the third, Batesville scored the maximum five runs with two outs. Booth tripled then scored on a single by Khalena Hentz. Hentz, Taylor Barton, D. J. Douglas, Carlye Washington, all scored to give Batesville a 9-3 lead.

Bateville scored four runs in the fourth and five in the fifth while only allowing Hernando four more runs in the game for the much-needed victory.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, Batesville was back on the field to take on the Southaven Chaos. The temperature was reading 102 degrees and Batesville pitcher Douglas had to call it a day after the second inning.

Southaven won 14-8 in five innings to eliminate the Bling from the tournament.

At the end of the game, the Bling was presented the sportsmanship trophy.

The Bling will play in the Dizzy Dean World Series July 11-15 in Southaven.