Playoff berth secured, Vicksburg in tailspin

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 27, 2000

More than two weeks after securing a playoff spot, Vicksburg High is in a tailspin.

The latest setback came Tuesday night with a pair of losses to Terry (19-7) in a doubleheader at Halls Ferry Park, 12-6 and 16-5.

The Missy Gators (14-9), who have lost six of their last seven, are still two weeks away from finding out if they will play at home or on the road in the opening round of the playoffs.

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“From this point on, we can’t play down to anybody,” VHS coach Josh Harper said.

“That’s why we made the schedule the way it is. If this is a measuring stick for the playoffs, well then, we’re in a bigger drought than we just went through. I think since the Greenville game we’ve had it in our heads, like, what do we have to play for?’ ”

The free-swinging Lady Bulldogs hit the ball hard all night long, ending the second game after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Terry cranked out 17 hits in the second game, and took a quick 5-0 lead.

The visitors led 7-0 before the Missy Gators put a run on the scoreboard.

Four errors and a LaToya Trunell single in the bottom of the second pulled Vicksburg to within 7-3, but the Lady Bulldogs came back with four runs in the top of the third behind three singles and aggressive baserunning.

Courtney Gray had three singles and a RBI, Jessica McGinn had a pair of doubles, a single and an RBI, and Anna Lindsay had four RBIs.

Run-scoring singles by Kelsey Hudson and Dayna Nugent in the bottom of the fourth gave Vicksburg its final two runs.

Three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth by Terry ended the game for the Missy Gators.

In the opener, Kassidy Dollar had two singles and a run, while Krystal Lofton had a pair of doubles and a run. Kristen Landers added a double and Viola Howard scored two runs.

Vicksburg tied the game at 2-2 after the first inning and trailed just 5-4 after the third, but Terry scored one in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the seventh.

The Missy Gators were shut out the final four innings.

Vicksburg will host Clinton on Thursday at Halls Ferry Park in another tuneup game for the playoffs.

“I know these girls can do it,” Harper said. “But I’d like them to do it one more time before playoffs.”

Warren Central or Vicksburg can still win the division championship, depending on the run differential if the Lady Vikes beat Greenville on Oct. 10.

The Missy Gators clinched at least a second-place finish, which is good enough for a playoff berth. The first-place team gets to host its first-round playoff game while the runner-up will have to go on the road. Playoffs start Oct. 14.