[08/10/01] Low player turnout has forced St. Aloysius to pull out of their opening jamboree Saturday and left the rest of the season in limbo.

Only eight players made the team’s first practice and seven showed up for the second one, coach Gene Rogilio said.

The prospects for a full team are positive, Rogilio said. Teams are mandated to have at least 10 players on the roster.

“Normally I don’t go out looking for players, but I think I can talk two or three into playing,” Rogilio said. “I feel like we will have a team and will be competitive to a point within our own district.”

The Lady Flashes, who resurrected the softball program six years ago, were scheduled to play in the four-team Warren Central jamboree on Saturday.

Instead, O’Bannon High of Greenville, a Class 3A school, will take the Lady Flashes place.

“Of course, I am disappointed,” Rogilio said. “We were looking forward to playing.”

Six players off of last year’s roster either graduated or decided not to play this year, Rogilio said.

The Lady Flashes are slated to open the regular season on Tuesday against Madison-St. Joseph.

St. Joe will join O’Bannon, Vicksburg High and Warren Central in the round-robin tournament.

First-year VHS coach Jennifer Wilkerson said her Missy Gators were ready to play.

After several tumultuous seasons where Vicksburg High hovered around mediocrity amidst bickering among players, coaches and parents, Wilkerson wanted to find out about her team.

She called a 6 a.m. practice because “we needed the extra practice.”

Everyone showed up and it was one of the best practices so far.

Wilkerson, who became head coach after spending three seasons as a Warren Central basketball assistant, said the positive showing is just the first step toward rebuilding a program.

“That’s where I want to get it,” said Wilkerson, who played one year of softball at Delta State before a hip injury ended her career. “I tell people all the time that I can’t do things overnight, but as long as I am moving forward in a positive way and these girls are growing with me, our program will improve.”

Wilkerson’s Missy Gators, who finished last season 16-14, will find out quickly as the season opens Saturday.

The defending Class 5A North State champion Lady Vikes return nine starters off a team that lost in the state’s final four a season ago and finished 24-14.

“The jamboree is a good indicator of where we are,” WC coach Lucy Young said.

“It gives us an opportunity to look at batting orders and make some changes for the season, which starts Tuesday.”

Warren Central captured the division title in 2000, then beat Starkville and upset Madison Central en route to the North State title.

The Lady Vikes will be without LaShanda Williams, who will concentrate on basketball. But soccer standouts Courtney Hubert, Alisha Lawrence and Candis Beard are all playing for the first year.

Even after last year’s success, the Lady Vikes have just four seniors, including Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Marilyn Landers.

“Our girls have come back with positive attitudes and it seems like their spirits are up,” Young said. “They are excited and looking forward to the season.”

Wilkerson said the jamboree, which will count on the teams’ overall records, will be a good measuring stick for the Missy Gators’ season.

“I want to play competition and Warren Central is good competition,” Wilkerson said. “… I’m looking forward to seeing them.

“It’s going to be a little weird, but I’m at Vicksburg now and this is my family.”