The Vicksburg Venom 8-year-olds’ tournament team reached the Cal Ripken Southwest Regionals with a second-place finish at the state tournament.

The Venom advanced through bracket play before losing twice on Monday to Philadelphia. The Venom lost 16-1 and 9-7.

In the first game, the Phillies outhit the Venom 20-11, and the Venom committed eight errors.  Matthew Register scored the lone run for the Venom after a triple by LeDaryan Huband.

In the second game, the Venom jumped out to an early lead, 5-0, but the Phillies rallied to go ahead 9-5. Vicksburg scored two runs in the last inning.

Lee Simpson singled, tripled, and had three RBIs to lead the Venom at the plate. Huband singled, tripled, had two RBIs, and scored a pair of runs. John Austin Burris singled, doubled, and scored two runs, while Tyler Smith and Lane Hynum each had two singles.