[02/20/02] Lauren Anderson struck out 16 and twirled a two-hitter, but it was Warren Central’s offense that stole the show in a 12-2 win over Richland Tuesday.

Anna Mitchell and Katie Barnett had four hits apiece to lead the Lady Vikes’ 17-hit barrage, their best output since starting fast-pitch three years ago.

“That same kind of pitch, two years ago, we couldn’t touch it, and if we did, we couldn’t get it out of the infield,” WC coach Lucy Young said. “It made us feel good about our progress.

“Our first year, we would just stand there and hope to get on base … We want to play aggressive.”

It was the first real test for the Lady Vikes (3-0), who didn’t see many quality pitches in their season-opening doubleheader sweep of Brookhaven Saturday.

Mitchell had what Young called her best fast-pitch performance. with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Marilyn Landers added three hits, including a double, and Ashley Chaney had three hits and three RBIs. Barnett drove in two runs and Cookie Johnson added a double.

Anderson walked two and allowed just two hits and one earned run in seven innings. The defense behind her committed just two errors, despite wind gusts that topped 30 miles per hour at times.

“Anything that went high did some strange things,” Young said.