HATTIESBURG — After winning the state championship Thursday night, the Natchez 6-and-under Dixie Youth T-ball all-stars were forced to turn right back around Friday and play their first two Dixie Youth World Series games.

The team dropped their first game to a team from Arkansas 18-12, but was able to rebound and pick up a win against another Mississippi team 21-12 in their second game of the day.

“In our first game we didn’t look very good,” head coach Brandon Atkins said. “But in the second game we were able to run rule another team from Mississippi.”

Atkins said the quick turnaround was tough on his team.

“That was the one thing I was worried about,” he said. “Nobody else had to play last night, but we did, and when we got out here (Friday) morning, I was worried. I could see our kids dragging.”

Atkins credited the loss to a mixture of things.

“We weren’t making plays and the other team was not only hitting the ball, but also making key outs when they needed them,” Atkins said.

However, Atkins said he saw a whole different team in game two.

“We had actually played that team in the state tournament and beat them,” he said. “But in the second game, we hit the ball really well and they played a lot better.”

Today, Natchez will once again play two games, this time against teams from Texas and Louisiana.

“It is going to be tough,”

Atkins said. “If we play like we did (Friday), we will be 1-3 and going home.”

Game times for Natchez are 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.