[03/06/02]It took Justin Henry six batters to get in a groove. That’s all it took for Warren Central to score the runs it would need to beat archrival Vicksburg High, 6-2

In his first start of the season, Henry gave up two walks and four hits including a three-run double to Carl Upton and a two-run homer to Tom Corbin before shutting down the Vikings.

The Gators outscored WC 2-0 the rest of the way, but they couldn’t get to Upton the way the Vikings got to Henry at the beginning of the game. Upton allowed only four hits in seven innings and never more than one in an inning. He walked two and struck out four.

“I came out and didn’t throw well at first,” said Henry, who struck out six of the next nine batters he faced after Corbin’s homer. “I was a little wild early, and that put us in a tough situation.”

Henry, who was pitching with torn tendons in his thumb, struck out eight and gave up just two hits over the final five innings.

“He’s got a reliever’s mentality,” VHS coach Jamie Creel said. “I thought that he posed the best matchup against them. He locates three pitches … you can’t beat Warren Central with two pitches.”

The strategy worked, at least after the early assault.

“He was throwing first-pitch fastball … and we were just teeing off” early, Corbin said.

After that, “he was throwing first-pitch curve, and we started chasing it. We just have to start staying back and stop chasing bad pitches.”

WC coach Randy Broome was impressed with Henry.

“When they spot you six early, you expect to get more,” he said. “But he settled in and got us off balance, chasing bad stuff.”

Henry was more upset with his batting than his pitching, especially after grounding out with two runners on to end the game.

“We didn’t get the hits when we needed them,” Henry said, adding, “I’m not hitting.”

Creel said that’s not all Henry’s fault.

His injury affects him more on offense than defense. He has to wear a cast on it at all times except when he pitches.

“He’s not going to make excuses, but it bothers him a lot when he’s swinging,” Creel said. “Every time he makes contact, it really hurts.”

The loss was all that was hurting Henry after the game. But after the way he finished on the mound, he said he was confident going into the second of three showdowns with WC. They play again March 22 and April 5.

“For six innings, we beat them,” he said.

And that should give the Gators confidence going into the next division matchup with their crosstown rivals, Creel said.

“We should be hungry next time,” he said.