VIDALIA — Elizabeth Smith pitched four solid innings and the Vidalia Little League 13- and 14-year-old All-Stars used a big sixth inning to pull away from the Bossier Little League All-Stars for a 7-2 win Friday afternoon in the first day of the state tournament at the Concordia Recreation District 3 Complex.

Emily Huff had the only extra-base hit out of Vidalia’s eight total hits with a triple and the host team had no multiple hitters. Vidalia led 3-2 going into the sixth inning before taking control with a four-run rally that ended any chances of a Bossier comeback.

“It was a pitchers’ duel from start to finish, until the sixth innings,” Vidalia 13-14 head coach Wesley McCarver said. “We had some runners on base and weren’t able to take advantage of it. Bad breaks by both teams. Had some good plays by both teams. The girls jelled together as a team today.”

The Vidalia 13s-14s will next play at 8 p.m. today against the winner of the Jackson Parish/Blanchard game.

Vidalia 9-10s 24, Jackson Parish 13

VIDALIA — Sarah Jane Gray hit a grand slam home run during a 12-run rally in the top of the seventh inning as the Vidalia Little League 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars rallied to defeat Jackson Parish in seven innings Friday afternoon at the state tournament at the Concordia Recreation District 3 Complex.

After six regulation innings, the game was tied at 12-12 before Vidalia went on a tear in the top of the seventh. Olivia Moore pitched the bottom of the seventh and held Jackson Parish to just one run and ended up the winning pitcher.

Moore helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with a double. Gray went 3-for-5 and Skylar Hawley was 3-for-5 with a double.

The Vidalia 9-10s will take on either Bossier or Shreveport today at 6 p.m. Vidalia was originally scheduled to take on Shreveport, but the bracket was changed and both Bossier and Shreveport had first-round byes.

Winn Parish 16, Concordia 7-8s 6

NEW IBERIA, La. — Five Vidalia Little League machine-pitch All-Stars finished with multiple hits, but it wasn’t enough as the 7s and 8s fell in the first game of the state tournament.

Mallori Harveston and Meah Peoples both went 3-for-3 for Concordia, and Kenzy Hawley and Teagan kenny went 2-for-2. Lily McCarthy rounded things out for Vidalia, going 2-for-3.

Head coach Brent McCarthy said his team was able to come back from a 4-0 deficit early and tie the game, but late errors and a lack of timely hitting doomed his team.

“We scored four runs and tied it up, but after that, errors killed us,” McCarthy said. “We didn’t hit the ball very well when we needed to, and we left a lot of runners on base.

Gracyie Wiley had a double for Vidalia, and Peoples had a triple.

Vidalia will play Bossier next at 6 p.m. today.

Evangeline 7,

Vidalia 11-12s 4

JONESBORO, La. — The Vidalia Little League 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars were unable to make enough contact in their loss to Evangeline in the first game of the state tournament.

“Anytime you finish with 15 strikeouts, it’s hard to win a game,” head coach Leigh Anne Mason said.

Shelby Mason took the loss for Vidalia, pitching the first two innings and giving up four runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Leigh Anne Mason said three early errors put Shelby Mason and the rest of the team in a hole.

“If you take those out, we’re tied 4-4,” Mason said.

Bailey Yates pitched the next two innings for Vidalia, striking out three, and Haley Sharp threw the final two innings, tallying one strikeout.

Shelby Mason doubled and went 2-for-3, and Caroline Cotten hit an inside-the-park home run and also went 2-for-3. Despite the loss, Leigh Anne Mason said the game was a good learning experience for her players.

“Our kids are used to free (substitutions) and everyone getting to play,” she said. “It’s an adjustment for them, but it will be good for them in the long run when they start play high school ball.”

Vidalia will take on Jackson Parish at 6 p.m. today.