Vicksburg High’s Claiborne Bryant forces out Warren Central’s Candice McKay during the third inning of the Lady Vikes’ 15-7 win over the Missy Gators at Halls Ferry Park on Tuesday. (Sean P. MurphyThe Vicksburg Post)

[9/3/03]Vicksburg High jumped out to an early lead Tuesday against rival Warren Central (4-4, 1-0), but what has become the norm this season, the Missy Gators couldn’t hold on.

Warren Central scored five runs in the second inning to erase a 5-0 deficit and cruise to a 15-7 victory at Halls Ferry Park. The game was called in the sixth inning when a lightning storm hit the area.

“We were aggressive to begin with,” Vicksburg High coach Laquitta Smith said. “I don’t know, they’ve done this to me every game.”

Several Lady Vikes’ errors led to the Missy Gators’ (1-9, 0-1 Division 6-5A) first-inning outburst.

Walks and aggressive hitting allowed the Lady Vikes back in.

After tying the game in the second, WC scored three in the third, four in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Lauren Anderson led WC’s offense with a pair of doubles, while Tranyce Peoples had two singles and scored three runs, and Brittany Fuller scored three times. Keisha Blue and Candice McKay each added an RBI in the victory.

“I was real pleased with the way we came back after being down five runs,” said WC coach Lucy Young, whose team will be on the road today against Natchez for the completion of a suspended game from last week. “Our hitting today was better and we were real selective on the pitches.”

Kelli Ouzts took the loss in relief.

Temika Davenport scored two runs and singled for Vicksburg.

Warren Central nearly mercy-ruled the Missy Gators in the fifth, but Vicksburg added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to pull to within eight runs.

In the sixth, thunder and lightning surrounded Halls Ferry Park. WC and Vicksburg players took shelter for a few minutes before the game was called.

Vicksburg is scheduled to play in the Clinton Tournament on Saturday.