NATCHEZ &045; Maybe they just needed a little extra time to warm up.

The Natchez 13 All-Stars tied Jonesville 3-3 in their first practice game Wednesday night and then got down to business, winning the second game 5-1 in easy fashion.

The Natchez 13s looked strong on defense and the mound in the game, but Natchez head caoch Mike Lazarus said their hitting still needs to come around for them to be successful in next week’s tournament at Brookhaven.

&uot;If we get our hitting back, we’ll be all right,&uot; Lazarus said. &uot;Last year this team lived on the home run. We hit six consecutive in one game. We just need some time in the batting cage.&uot;

But Natchez has one thing very much in its favor. Lazarus has intentionally scheduled practice competition with 13 and 14-year-olds in order for his team, composed entirely of 13-year-olds, to get some tougher competition in preparation for the postseason.

&uot;All our kids are 13 and they have 13 and 14-year-olds over there, so this is good for us,&uot; Lazarus said.

Natchez cruised in the second game, scoring four runs in the second inning. Cole Mann reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Aaron White walked and went to second on that same passed ball. R.J. Fleming’s infield single loaded the bases for Audie Crosby, who smacked a double to right field that cleared the bases. Crosby came in on Colin Dollar’s double to left one play later.

Natchez added another run in the third when Kent King led off with a single, went to second on a passed ball and stole third and home on a double steal with Luke Wilson.

Jonesville started a comeback in the fourth, but only Dustin Winborne, who walked and later scored on a fielder’s choice, could cross the plate.

Natchez needed three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the first game after Jonesville went out to an early lead.

Jonesville scored all of its run in the first and third innings. Ethan Trisler was hit by a pitch and stole second base before eventually scoring on Jordan Wilson’s single.

Tevin Osteen led off the third with a double and scored on Dalton Herrington’s single.

Natchez didn’t score until the fourth inning, just as rain started to fall. Mann led off with a walk and moved up on White’s single. Mann scored on Fleming’s sacrifice fly and White came in on Caleb Johnson’s double. Johnson scored on Crosby’s double on the ensuing play.