[03/06/01] On the day before Vicksburg High and Warren Central were to square off, Gators coach Jamie Creel was already strategizing.

Monday, he said his pitcher for Tuesday night’s game will be a “game-time decision.” The team’s Web site, however, says it will be right-hander Mitchell Beauman.

WC coach Sam Temple, on the other hand, doesn’t hesitate to tell that he’s going with his big left-hander, Alabama signee Taylor Tankersley.

For all of their differences and there are plenty the Vikings and Gators have at least two things in common: they’re undefeated and they’re ready to play.

“This is one I don’t have to get them up for,” Temple said. “Everybody’s ready to go.”

All of the players are chomping at the bit after a nine-day layoff. Both teams had four games rained out last week.

“I know there’s a lot of frustration on both sides,” Creel said. “It’s almost like starting over. It could be a messy game.”

The Gators (6-0) have been anything but sloppy so far this season. They rely on sure-handed defense, a revolving pitching staff, scrappy batters and aggressive baserunning to win games.

Warren Central (7-0) has used dominant pitchers, power-hitters and solid fundamentals to beat four ranked teams in its first seven games.

“We knew the first part of our season was going to be a test,” Temple said.

And he believes his team can shake off the rust and keep up the pace.

“It’s never good to miss a week, but this squad has done well,” he said. “I’m confident in our players.”

The Vikings have five home runs in seven games. The Gators have none. But VHS, which has already stolen 19 bases on 21 attempts, does have a decided advantage over WC on the basepaths.

That’s where Tankersley (1-0) comes in. His job is to keep them off the bases. He has struck out 25 and walked only four in 13 innings.

“This is the biggest game of the year,” said Tankersley, a senior. “This might be my only chance to beat them.”

Brian Pettway (2-0), who is usually first out of the bullpen for WC, is batting a blistering .538 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Catcher Kevin Coker is hitting .417.

“I know, on paper, no one expects us to even stay close,” Creel said. “They’ve got all of those D-I players and we just don’t match up well with them.

“But I have a lot of confidence in this team, regardless of the outcome. This is the best team I’ve had, so far as playing together and playing like you’re supposed to.”

Speedy center fielder J.J. Brown, who is hitting .400, doesn’t mind the underdog role, but he doesn’t buy into it either.

“We can beat anybody,” he said, adding that pitching and defense have been the keys to the Gators’ start. “By our second time up, we should hit the ball.”

Brown has three steals and four triples and Chris Middleton has a team-high six RBIs.

The Gators’ top pitcher, record-wise, is freshman Justin Boler (2-0), who has two strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Beauman is 1-0 with a team-high eight strikeouts and seven walks.

“If we locate and throw strikes like we have and make them put the ball in play, I feel confident,” Creel said.

Both teams practiced indoors last week.

The layoff was good in one respect for the Vikings, Temple said. It gave shortstop Joey Lieberman, Coker and Tyler DeRossette time to get over some nagging injuries.

The Gators, on the other hand, are in worse shape. Starting left fielder David Stagg was injured in a car wreck last week and won’t play and third baseman Corey Hudson can’t throw for two weeks because of a shoulder problem.

“We’re not at full strength,” Creel said.

Temple said the field is in good shape, but the outfield is wet in spots.

The weather could still be a factor, though. Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s.

“The cold might affect the crowd, but we’ll dress warm,” Creel said.

Tankersley said he pitched against Meridian in similar conditions last month.

“I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “I don’t notice it.”

Temple said fans started putting out lawn chairs with name tags on them Monday night to stake their places.

“That’s just fantastic,” he said. “We thank all of the fans, and not just the ones from Warren Central, for making baseball this big here.”