[3/19/04]Fast-pitch softball will dominate the playing fields at Warren Central starting today with an 8-team, double-elimination tournament.

Five teams from Mississippi including host WC, Vicksburg and St. Aloysius and three from Louisiana will compete in the tournament, whose champion will be crowned Saturday night at 7 p.m.

“I think this will be a very good field,” said WC coach Lucy Young of the tournament teams. “I think they’ll be some pretty even matchups, and it could go any way.”

Warren Central shifted its first-round matchup from 7 p.m. to 5:45 to accommodate tonight’s WC prom. The Lady Vikes will open against Rayville, La.

St. Aloysius will open the tournament this afternoon against Vidalia, La., and Vicksburg High will play 13th-ranked Lawrence County at 7 p.m. Each game will have a one-hour time limit and admission is $4.

“There are a lot of good teams with strong traditions,” Young said. “I don’t think there’s a clear-cut favorite.”

Once again, the Louisiana teams were chomping to get into the tournament. Young said she had three or four other Louisiana teams ask to get invited.

“You see the baseball teams playing more Louisiana schools, too,” Young said. “It makes no sense to drive two hours to play someone you’ve played already when you can drive an hour and play a good team over there.”

The third Louisiana team Crowville will play on Saturday morning against Cleveland at 9 a.m.

Following that game, the loser’s and winner’s bracket games will begin.

The forecast is calling for a chance of rain, but Young is confident.

“The field is ready to go,” Young said. “Unless something unforeseen happens, we’re looking forward to a very good weekend of softball.”