The all-important first game was there for the taking for Vicksburg High on Saturday, like low-hanging fruit.

South Panola gave the Gators chance after chance to run away and nab it, with booted balls aplenty and an ace who was on the ropes. The Gators never did grab it, though. They wasted the opportunity, lost in extra innings, and now have a tall task in front of them.

Vicksburg heads to Batesville today for Game 2 of its first-round Class 6A playoff series against South Panola. It needs to win that one to force a decisive Game 3 immediately afterward, and sweep the doubleheader to advance to a second-round series against Horn Lake beginning on Friday.

“They know. They realize in their mind that we had a chance to win it, and I think they’re going to go into Monday confident,“ Vicksburg coach Cody Zumbro said. “Their back is against the wall. Those seniors are going to battle and try to extend their season. I don’t worry about that. They’re going to show up ready. It’s just finishing the game that we’ve got to get control of.”