VIDALIA — The fourth season of the Miss-Lou Fast Pitch Softball League starts Thursday, but two of the four age divisions may not have enough teams because of a lack of players signing up.

Mike Bowlin, recreation director for Concordia Parish, District 3, said that there will be enough teams for the under-8 and under-11 age divisions. However, that is not the case for the under-14 and 15-and-up age divisions. All of the games will played in Vidalia.

“I need more of the kids to sign up. Every (division) has to have at least three teams,” Bowlin said. “Under-8 will have at least three teams. Under-11 is headed toward three teams. Under-14 and 15-and-up, I don’t have anywhere near that. We have to get it through by the middle of August or I won’t have a league (for the older players). Each team will play eight to 10 games.”

Among the reasons Bowlin gave for the low number of players signing up in the older age divisions are that the slow pitch season just came to an end and that a lot of people are on vacation. Bowlin added that he wants the teams to stay together and play as a team. And that includes the junior high and high school teams.

“It helps accelerate both Natchez and Vidalia in learning about fast pitch. They like fast pitch. We wanted to introduce people to it,” Bowlin said about why he started this league back in 2006. “Natchez switched this year and Vidalia will switch next year. We’re still playing slow pitch in Vidalia. We’ll probably play fast pitch the first part of the year and slow pitch the second part of the year.”

Bowlin said that the Miss-Lou Fast Pitch Softball League is an instructional league and that there are no trophies or awards given out. He noted that the purpose of the league is to introduce those who play slow pitch to fast pitch so they can learn more about it.

“Around here, Natchez and Vidalia played slow pitch for years. Slow pitch is more of a recreational game,” he said. “But in fast pitch, it’s more like baseball. You have to put more time into it. It’s real low key.”

Players can register at Sports Center in Natchez or Hometown Sports in Vidalia. The registration fee is $50 for the first child and $40 for the second child. For more information, contact Mike Bowlin at 601-431-9783 or Greg Young at 318-336-3321.