As they make the transition from coach-pitch to advanced baseball, it’s only natural for the Vicksburg Braves to have their ups and downs.

There will be days when the first-year pitchers struggle, or the bats go cold, and other days when everythng clicks.

Days like Saturday.

The Braves, a 9-year-olds’ tournament team playing up an age group, opened the 10-year-olds’ Governor’s Cup with a 13-0 shutout of the Redhats. Later in the day, they managed only two hits in a 9-0 loss to the Delta Bulldogs.

“It’s the way the whole summer has been,” said Braves coach Jamie Creel, who spent 10 seasons as Vicksburg High’s coach before stepping down in June. “We’ll play one great game, then stink it up. It’s youngness and playing up, but at some point you have to find that consistency.”

After the early victory, the Braves were never able to get on track in their second game of the day. Their only hits were singles by Sean Dailey and Clint Hargrave.

In the second inning, Dailey singled, Christian Oakes was hit by a pitch and P.J. Mims walked to load the bases with one out. Jarfikar Parker then came on in relief for the Bulldogs and escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts. Parker went on to strike out six batters in 2 2/3 innings.

The Bulldogs took an early 3-0 lead after two innings, then blew the game open with six runs in the third. Trevor Muzzi had an RBI double, while Konner Short and Owen Jackson each singled in runs.

With the loss, the Braves fell into the No. 5 seed for the elimination round. They will face the Bulldogs again today at 11 a.m. The winner advances to the semifinals.