After winning for the first time in three games at the Governor’s Cup late Saturday afternoon, players for the Vicksburg Vikings were ready to go to the swimming pool.

Short memories were in abundance in the dugout of the 8-year-olds’ baseball team following its 12-3 win over the Greenville Giants.

&#8220They forget whether they won or lost,” Vikings coach Blake Teller said after his team’s final game of the tournament. &#8220They’re ready to go swimming right now. Even if you lose a heartbreaker, they’re ready to go swimming and have a good time.”

The Vikings played in seven tournaments this spring and summer, even traveling to Jackson, Clinton and Morton for games. The main objective, Teller said, is that the players learn fundamentals that will help them when they become physically stronger.

Rules at the 8-year-olds’ level are a little different than older age divisions. For example, coaches pitch to their players and four players are in the outfield instead of three.

Laura Fulghum watched as her son, Shelton Miller, stroked a triple. About five minutes later, Miller caught a fly ball in right field to record an out.

Fulghum said she got her son started in baseball when he was 4 years old to get him interested in something that will keep him out of trouble when he gets older.

&#8220This age group is really fun,” Fulghum said. &#8220They’re above throwing it all over the field and everybody dogpiling, but they’re not so serious that it is not a game anymore. It’s still fun for them at this age.”

Umpires Robert Stubbs and Wayne Walsh had the duty of calling games on the 8-year-olds’ field from 8 a.m. Saturday until the final game ended after 8 p.m.

Stubbs is the USSSA Middle Mississippi Umpiring Chief in charge of scheduling umpires for all age divisions during the Governor’s Cup.

Stubbs, who also umpires high school and college softball contests, said there’s nothing quite like an 8-year-olds’ game.

&#8220I enjoy this age because there’s not as much pressure,” Stubbs said. &#8220These kids have fun, and when it’s over, it’s over. The Vikings just won 12-3, and one kid just said, ‘We won by six.’ He didn’t even know what the score was.”