MEADVILLE – Three area teams kicked off the 2001slow-pitch softball season on Saturday at Franklin County High School with a pair of &uot;fun&uot; games. Natchez, Cathedral, Franklin County and South Pike High made of the four-team field for the event.

The games were just practice contests, but coaches got a good look at their teams in game action, picking up ways to improve ballclubs and seeing their teams’ strengths.

&uot;We could see areas where we need to work and put special emphasis on them so we can be better next game,&uot; said Franklin County coach Leonide Sullivan. The Bulldogs lost their first game against Cathedral, but came back to win its second battle with a shutout over South Pike.

&uot;I know we have a few things to work on,&uot; said Natchez coach Sue Johnson. &uot;I was pleased. (The players) see what they need to do to improve. That was the purpose of it.&uot;

Natchez lost to Cathedral also in its first game, but the Bulldogs scored a win against South Pike.

Johnson said she saw some good things from her team, like everyone hustling, backing up each other and communicating on the field. Sullivan said her team played good infield defense and worked well together also.

&uot;We got to see more here than we do at practice,&uot; Sullivan said.

Franklin County’s first game is Thursday at 5:30 p.m. versus Wilkinson County. Natchez’s first game is Aug. 21 versus Amite County. Cathedral plays at Wilkinson County at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.