Gators get first win over Jags|[3/8/06]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 8, 2006

MADISON – Knowing his seniors had never beaten Madison Central, Vicksburg coach Jamie Creel challenged his players to make Tuesday night’s game with the Jaguars a defining moment for their season.

Thanks to a complete game performance from senior ace Steven Price and three hits from senior Jordan Henry, the Gators took Creel’s challenge to heart and fought their way to a key 5-3 Division 3-5A victory over the Jaguars.

The win keeps the Gators undefeated on the season at 9-0 and 3-0 in the division. Madison Central, one year removed from an undefeated regular season, fell to 4-3 and 0-3 in division play.

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&#8220It’s a big win. Whenever you start getting ready to climb a mountain, it takes a first step,” Creel said. &#8220It’s two good ball clubs going at it head to head, and it’s a lot of scratching and clawing, and we were fortunate enough to come out on top tonight.”

&#8220I think we’re so much better than what we’re playing, and that’s a little frustrating,” Jaguars coach Gregg Perry said. &#8220You just can’t make four errors and expect to compete at this level.”

The Gators first took advantage of the Jaguars’ miscues to break open a scoreless game in the third inning. Right fielder Nathan Hardy misplayed a single by Gerald Mims, allowing two runs to score. One batter later, Tyler Wells brought Mims home with a sacrifice fly, and the Gators had a 3-0 lead.

The lead was 5-0 when Madison Central finally got to Price in the sixth, as catcher Grafton Bragg lined a single to right field to cut the deficit to 5-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Jags plated one run and got runners on second and third with two outs, but Price got Ryan Lee out on a hard grounder to Henry to seal the victory.

&#8220I was definitely thinking at the time that the ball had to come to me because I had to redeem myself,” said Henry, who committed two errors, including one on a possible double play ball in the sixth inning.

&#8220We want that last ball hit to Jordan Henry,” added Creel. &#8220We know he’s going to make the play. He’s a competitor.”

For the Jaguars and their seniors, they find themselves in uncharted territory after last year’s undefeated regular season. If they are to turn things around, the next opportunity comes against this same Gators team on Friday in Vicksburg.

&#8220We’re hitting balls hard, but we’re not catching the breaks we did last year,” said senior shortstop Jarrod Parks, who fought through an 0-for-4 night at the plate.

&#8220This group has been together for all of our lives pretty much, and once we get everything together, we’ll be where we need to be.”

WC 10, Greenville 0.

Eric Douglas struck out 13 batters in a two-hit shutout, and Nick Carson homered, doubled and drove in three runs as Warren Central routed Greenville-Weston. The game was halted by the mercy rule after five innings.

The Vikings managed only seven hits, but five of them went for extra bases and they also took advantage of six Greenville errors. Kyle Calhoun, Jeff Ward and Carson all doubled for WC (7-3, 3-0 Division 3-5A), while Josh Gordon tripled. Jonathon Ettinger added two hits and two RBIs.