Warren Central’s Ryan Grey slides safely into third base with a triple in the fifth inning on Tuesday. (Meredith SpencerThe Vicksburg Post)

[7/14/04]Warren County AAU rode a huge fifth inning to a 9-2 victory over Jackson Academy in the second round of the End of the Summer Showdown Tuesday at Warren Central.

“We just took advantage of opportunities when they knocked on our door,” WC coach Randy Broome said. “Their starter got a little tired, and we had some real good at-bats.”

Josh Gordon gave up five hits in four innings to earn the win. He struck out three and walked two. After David Mooney’s two-run blast in the first, Gordon held JA scoreless until Eric Douglas came in to close it in the fifth.

Douglas retired the side 1-2-3 to end the game by way of the mercy rule.

Mooney’s homer was the only extra-base hit of the night, and no JA player had more than one hit.

“Josh did well getting out of some tough jams tonight,” Broome said.

“We just want to go out there and try to get three outs every time before we think about the next three.”

In the fifth, WC sent nine batters to the plate, and recorded six runs on just three hits. JA used three pitchers in the inning.

Heading into the top of the inning, WC led 3-2. Gordon started it off by reaching on an error, and he was sacrificed over by Ben Koestler. JA starter Corey Mays then walked Zach Balthrop to put runners on the corners.

Douglas knocked Gordon in with a base hit, and Ryan Grey cleared the bases with a two-run triple.

The last hit of the inning was an RBI double by Nick Carson, his second of the night.

Despite the win, Broome is still concerned about his team’s reliance on the big inning, and what could happen if they don’t get one.

“(The inconsistency) is kind of frustrating, because we’ve got guys who can get it done,” he said. “We’re just fighting against our mentality right now. We need to step up to the plate with it in our minds that we want to hit it, not that we have to hit it. Our guys have just got to relax a little.”

WC will play Madison Central, who beat the Junior 96ers Tuesday, today at 7:30.