[7/17/03]The No. 7-seeded Vicksburg Mudcats 8-year-olds’ tournament team opened Super Series bracket play in Sulphur, La., with an 8-2 win over the Texas Titans.

Cameron Upton, Matt Smith and Matthew Jones each had three hits to lead the Mudcats.

The Mudcats advanced to bracket play by winning their first three games in pool play earlier in the week, with wins over Beaumont, Texas, 6-2, the Arkansas Sluggers, 8-0, and the Calcasieu (La.) Gators, 7-6.

In the win over the Gators, Smith’s double in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Cale Luke to complete the 7-6 win. Upton led the team with two singles and a triple, while Reed Evans and Matthew Bell each had three hits.

Against the Sluggers, Upton, Chipper Leach, Austin, and Bell each had three hits in the shutout. Luke and Newquist each hit two doubles.