SEARCY, Ark. — Pool play began Friday for the Natchez T-ball All-Stars at the Dixie Youth World Series, and the Natchez-based team struggled out of the gates.

The all-stars fell to Hudson, Texas in its World Series opener, 21-18, then dropped the night cap to Shreveport, La, 24-6.

“We had a chance to win the game this morning,” Natchez coach Wes Middleton said. “We had a little bit of first-game jitters. We should have won that game.”

In the second game, Middleton said his squad managed to hold the powerful Shreveport-based team to just three runs in the second inning, and Middleton said that was perhaps the opportunity his team needed, but they were unable to sustain their momentum.

“I told them that was our chance,” he said. “They put it on us after that. We came out pretty hot, but they were probably the top team in the tournament … They have some pretty talented teams here.”

Middleton said Gibson Hillyer was a standout defensive player for his squad, while Jiles Lees and John Riley Stillers were standouts at the plate.

Natchez will play again today at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today before heading to bracket play Sunday.

“We should still be middle of the pack if we do OK tomorrow,” Middleton said. “I keep telling them to keep their heads. There’s still lots of baseball left to play.”