Natchez High School softball coach Bonita Hamilton would jump on the field if given the chance.

However, a former softball player herself, Hamilton was forced to watch as the Lady Bulldogs struggled to find any momentum Friday as her team fell in Game 1 of its MHSAA Class 5A Play-In Round Playoffs Series to Picayune, 13-0, in four innings.

“I can’t do it for them,” Hamilton said. “If I could go out there I would, but the spotlight is on them.”

Natchez failed to register a hit in the loss, though Ava Reese came close with a blast to right field. On her way to third, however, she was tagged out before reaching base.

“I know they can hit. They can hit the ball,” Hamilton said. “But today, the bats just didn’t come around.

“The defense had one or two errors, but they were still holding up. We have just got to hit the ball.”

Natchez is set to play Game 2 at noon today at Picayune, and will play Game 3 if necessary at 2 p.m.

Hamilton said though Friday’s showing was not what she had anticipated, she’s hoping the Lady Bulldogs will be able to reconvene with a new attitude.

“They need to be more focused,” she said. “I don’t know what else I can do to motivate them to do what I think they can do.

“All of these girls play ball year-round, but when it’s time to perform they just don’t.”

No matter the outcome, Hamilton said she will continue to do her best as a coach.

“We are not quitters,” she said. “We are still where we want to be at and (today) is going to be a different story.”

Carleigh Sproulls pitched all four innings to take the loss for Natchez Friday.