WC secures playoff berth with win over VHS
Published 12:00 am Friday, April 4, 2003
[4/4/03]A week ago, Warren Central had its back against the wall in its quest for a playoff berth. Now, after two wins in four days over archrival Vicksburg, the Lady Vikes are breathing easy and looking ahead to the postseason.
Lauren Anderson struck out 10 and allowed only two hits in seven innings as WC beat Vicksburg 4-0 on Thursday and clinched the second playoff berth from Division 6-5A.
“It feels great, because we lost some close games to Clinton, and then to come back and beat your rival, that’s really good so you can get in and play in the playoffs,” Anderson said.
After losing to the Lady Vikes on Monday, Vicksburg (9-10, 0-4 division) needed to win Thursday’s game by eight runs or more to make the playoffs.
Eighth-grade pitcher Holly Head held WC (15-6, 2-2) in check, but the Missy Gators managed only three baserunners against Anderson. Heather Shelby reached on an error in the second inning, and Shannon Arnold and Head both singled in the sixth.
Head held the Lady Vikes to three hits in seven innings. She walked four and struck out three, and pitched out of four different jams without serious damage.
With such a tall order in store for making the playoffs, Vicksburg coach Laquitta Smith said she was happier to see Head pitch well than she was disappointed about missing the postseason.
“That’s over and done with, and we kind of forgot that after Whitney (Smith) got hurt,” Laquitta Smith said, referring to her top pitcher, who suffered a hip injury on Monday and is likely out for the season.
“Right now, I am up here because my little J.V. pitcher just pitched a two-hitter, and I am dang proud of her.”
The Lady Vikes scored the first run of the game in the second inning when Cookie Johnson led off with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch. They added single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but left eight runners on base six of them in scoring position.
“I was a little disappointed in the way we hit tonight. I was hoping we would hit better. Their pitcher did a great job. There was not quite as much pace on the ball as we’re used to seeing lately, so it kind of got our timing off,” WC coach Lucy Young said.
WC has four games left in the regular season, beginning today at 5:30 p.m. against Natchez, and will open the playoffs on April 12 at either Tupelo, Starkville, or Columbus.