NATCHEZ You could sense something was amiss the way Natchez High softball players shrewdly loitered around the Natchez-Adams Softball Complex field after their victory Tuesday.

Sure enough pitcher Krystal Arnold and left fielder Ashley Mitchell manned each side of the Gatorade cooler prepared to douse first-year head coach Leigh Anne Mason after her first district win, an 11-0 thumping of Vicksburg.

But they underestimated the engine on coach, who took off for the outfield and managed to escape the jug of water except for a slight spray on the back of her white, knit shirt.

The Bulldogs (7-1, 1-0 division 6-5A) are hoping for more celebratory moments in a district that includes only Tuesday’s victim and Warren Central.

“I told the girls before the game that for us to go through to the playoffs it started right here with Vicksburg and Warren Central,” said Mason, whose only loss was a 12-11 defeat to Cathedral in late August. “These girls know what district means, and they know what it takes right here to get to the postseason.”

A five-run second inning sparked the mercy rule win.

Bulldog right fielder Rosetta Ikard led things off in the bottom of the second with a triple, crossing home plate on a single from Chelsea Hall to make it a 2-0 game.

With Hall at second and Ashley Mitchell a step off the bag at first, leadoff hitter Mable Green sent a screamer down the left field line to clear the bases on a three-run home run to make it 5-0.

“I was focused, that was main thing. I came ready to play today,” said Green, who was an at-bat shy of a possible cycle in three appearances. “I think the Franklin County game (Monday) got us ready to go. We’re just staying focused and concentrated on hitting the ball.”

Sarah Weaver, who followed Green’s laser with a triple of her own, made it 6-0 when she scored on a Honda Griffin ground out.

Up 8-0 to open the fourth, Natchez added three runs to reach double digits and forced Vicksburg to get on run across in its half of the fifth.

When asked for her analysis of the defeat, Vicksburg head coach Laquitta Smith issued no comment.

“It puts me at ease knowing when the bases are loaded and I’ve (Nos.) 5, 6 and 7 in the order coming up,” Mason said. “It makes me comfortable knowing we’re solid. That depth makes coaching a lot easier.”