[08/25/02]If Warren Central felt they started the season with a sluggish offense, then the bats awoke with a vengeance to win the Lady Vikes Slow-Pitch Invitational Saturday.

The Lady Vikes (5-2) made a charge through their tournament at Warren Central, averaging 16 runs a game before invoking the mercy rule on undefeated Hollandale Simmons (7-1) in the bottom of the fourth with a 17-1 score in the championship game.

The score was a tight 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth before Warren Central took advantage of a Hollandale team that had played a doubleheader against Vicksburg.

The Lady Vikes scored 14 runs and nearly batted around twice in the inning before the game was called.

“We got worn out playing back-to-back, but that wasn’t no excuse,” Hollandale coach George Willis said. “They put the ball where they had to put it.”

Anna Mitchell’s bat provided the wake-up call in the bottom of the fourth with a home run, triple and four RBIs. Katie Barnett went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, and Lauren Anderson was 2-for-3 with a triple and 3 RBIs.

“We were just having fun, and it was hot, so we just wanted to hit and get it over with,” said Tranyce Peoples, who went 2-for-3.

Pitcher Haley Martin earned all of WC’s wins in the tournament, allowing an average of one run per game, and won the championship game by blanking the Hollandale bats in the final three innings.

“I’m so proud,” Martin said. “Maybe people will start hitting the rest of the season and keep it up.”

The potent front four of Hollandale’s lineup, which scored seven of its eight runs in its previous game against VHS, just couldn’t find a crease in the Lady Vikes defense. Freshman Gergia Grisby went 2-for-2.

“Everybody is determined that they’re going to get back on their game and do as good as they can do,” Lady Vikes coach Lucy Young said. “This is a great group, and we got a big group of seniors here and they want this to be their best year.”

Hollandale 8, VHS 3

The Missy Gators (2-4) ran out of time and offense against Hollandale-Simmons.

VHS, plagued by offensive woes all season, failed to score a run in the final three innings and missed the opportunity to play crosstown rival Warren Central in the championship game.

The Missy Gators took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, gave up three in the bottom of the inning, and tied the score in the second. But it was all Hollandale after that, as it scored five unanswered runs.

“The hitting is coming around,” VHS outfielder Viola Howard said. “We’re doing better on offense, worse on defense.”

Howard led the offense with a 1-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a run. Courtney Prentiss had two runs.

“We shouldn’t have lost that game, we should have been playing for the championship game,” Howard said. “So all I have to say is we have to try harder and keep our heads up.”

WC 14, Hazlehurst 2

The Lady Vikes ended their two-game losing streak and won the first game of the tournament behind Martin’s pitching. Hazlehurst suffered its first loss of the season.

VHS 7, Yazoo City 1

The Missy Gators collected their second win in a row with a combination of defense and offense that coach Smith had yet to see from the team.

WC 16, Madison-St. Joe 0

The Lady Vikes collected the first of two mercy-rule shortened wins as Martin and a solid defense shut out Madison-St. Joe.

The Lady Vikes scored 13 runs in the first inning, with leadoff hitter Katie Barnett walking and scoring twice in the inning.

Keisha Blue went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Cookie Johnson had two RBIs.