[9/18/01]Keisha Blue scored on a hit by Heather Garrard in the top of the sixth inning as the Warren Central Lady Vikes (15-2) dealt Cleveland-East Side its first loss, 5-4, on Monday.

Blue’s drive was the last of a three-run rally after East Side (15-1) held a 4-2 lead.

Marilyn Landers, who led the Lady Vikes with four hits, started the inning with a single. Landers scored on Johnson’s triple and Johnson scored on Blue’s hit to tie the game at 4.

“East Side was a strong, very fast team,” WC coach Lucy Young said. “We were able to take advantage of a couple mistakes.”

Hayley Martin retired the final six East Side batters in order to preserve the win.

Lyn Strawn had two hits for WC, which will host state power Northwest Rankin this afternoon at 5:30.

The Lady Vikes will battle Clinton on Thursday before playing division-foe Natchez in one week. WC can clinch the division title with a pair of wins over Natchez.

PCA 7, Central Hinds 6

The Lady Eagles (4-3) capitalized on two late Lady Cougar errors and held on to win and go above .500 for the first time in their first season of fast-pitch.

Betsy Bryan, a sophomore transfer from Warren Central, struck out a season-high seven and walked one while scattering 10 hits.

She also had a two-run double in the three-run fifth, which gave PCA a 4-3 lead.

PCA managed just five hits.

“We were lucky to win this one,” PCA coach Liz Gullett said.

Amy Rutledge and Lindsey McCool had a pair of hits apiece and McCool also drove in a run for PCA, which scored six in the final two innings.

Rutledge and Ashley Brown scored the last two runs in the final inning on an overthrow to third. Rutledge was trying to steal when the catcher overthrew third, then the left-fielder mishandeled the ball.

PCA hosts Riverfield in a doubleheader at Culkin today at 5.