on collision course for division showdown

Warren Central’s Mark Different slides safely into third base as Forest Hill’s Warren Mason (10) tries to put on the tag in the third inning of the Vikings’ 10-0 win on Tuesday. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

Ending highlights WC’s 10-0 victory over Forest Hill

[3/31/04]Forest Hill provided one of the craziest endings to an otherwise ho-hum 10-0 loss to Warren Central.

With the Vikings (15-5, 2-1) leading 9-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Nick Carson singled and stole second. The scoreboard, however, had not been reset from the inning before and still had two outs showing from the previous inning.

Allen Carlisle then grounded out to shortstop for the first out of the inning. Thinking it was the third out, Forest Hill first baseman Corey Moncrief rolled the ball toward pitcher’s mound while the rest of the Rebels tore off the field for the dugout.

Before they realized their miscue, Carson rounded third and headed for home, sealing the 10-0 mercy-rule shortened game.

“I’ve never seen one end like this,” Warren Central coach Randy Broome said. “They were hustling off the field. It’s something you teach and preach about always hustling, and they were doing that.

“It’s kind of a lesson for us … you have to realize the situation.”

Carson’s game-winner capped a one-hit shutout by Drew Warnock, who allowed only a two-out single in the second inning. No Forest Hill (9-11, 1-4) runner reached third base.

Carson and Carlisle singled twice each for the Vikings, while Mark Different connected on a three-RBI triple and Vaughn Mims had three RBIs.

PCA 13, G’ville Christian 1

Porters Chapel bounced back from its first loss of the season with an easy win over lowly Greenville Christian.

Michael Busby pitched two innings and did not allow a baserunner to earn the win. Chip Lofton and Rob Quimby neither had ever pitched before threw one inning each.

Ryan Hoben hit a triple, home run and had three RBIs, while Quimby hit a home run. Justin Boler and Humphrey Barlow each had a double and three RBIs.

Gerald Mims stole five bases, including stealing home in the first.

Gators slam Natchez, move within a win of Division 6-5A crown

Vicksburg High bashed its way to another convincing win Tuesday night.

The Gators pounded Natchez for 12 hits, took advantage of five Bulldog errors, and claimed a 12-1 victory. It was the fourth win in the last six games for the Gators (12-6, 5-0 Division 6-5A), and the third straight game in which they have scored at least 10 runs.

“After the second inning we hit the ball rather nicely,” said VHS coach Jamie Creel, whose team scored 11 runs in the last three innings. “We came through with some big hits and had some people step up.”

Steven Price, James Jackson and Sean McGowan each drove in two runs for VHS, while Hampton Calvin went 2-for-3 with a game-ending three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

John Hendrix held Natchez (5-11, 0-4) in check on the mound, allowing just two hits and one walk in five innings of work. He struck out five.

“Once again, John didn’t have his A-game, but he battled through and made some quality pitches when he had to,” Creel said.

Clifford Wright had an RBI single to score Natchez’s only run, in the fourth. By then, VHS already held a 6-0 lead and was about to build on it in the bottom of the inning.

Natchez committed four errors in the fourth, leading to three Gator runs. The last, second baseman Cameron Logan’s second throwing error of the inning, allowed Price to score from third and made it 9-1.

Natchez went in order in the fifth, and Vicksburg quickly put an end to the game in the bottom of the inning. Sean Gibbs led off with a double and went to third on Nathan Baylot’s pinch-hit single. Calvin then followed with his homer to left to end the game by the 10-run mercy rule.

The win will set up a showdown on Tuesday for the division championship between Vicksburg and Warren Central. Vicksburg can win the division outright by beating WC, or having Natchez beat WC on Friday.