The 14-and-under M-Pact All- Star Team of Lampasas had a difficult start to pool play in the fast-pitch softball Summer Nationals in Harlingen, losing two of its first three games.

The Lampasas team was set to begin bracket play in the doubleelimination tournament yesterday at 3:30 p.m. against the Texas Hurricanes of Alamo. Kinzy Courtney was slated to pitch.

The M-Pact All-Star Team will play again this afternoon.

After two losses to open pool play, the Lampasas squad recovered with a 9-8 victory over RGV Rage.

"They were real pumped, and they just played well," team manager Debbie Wiles said.

Players are overcoming their nerves in the Lampasas squad's first national tournament appearance, Wiles said.

The M-Pact All Stars are staying in a hotel with several other national qualifiers, including a team from California and one from Louisiana.

"They're pretty big teams," she said.

Throughout the season the MPact All-Star Team has started slowly, the manager said, and then improved its play dramatically.

"We have a lot of confidence in them," Wiles said.