Aggressive running lifts Warren Central.

MONROE – Three arms proved to be better than one for Warren Central against Dutchtown, La., Friday night.

Viking pitchers Eric Douglas, Nick Carson and Josh Gordon combined on a 1-hitter to lead WC (10-3) past Dutchtown, a Louisiana Class 5A playoff power, 2-1 in the second day of the Ouachita tournament at Embanato Field.

Dutchtown (9-7) had its ace on the mound in Jordan Poche and he quickly peppered the Vikings with a fastball clocked at 91 mph. The Vikings had just two base runners on in the first four innings. Gordon reached on a leadoff hit in the second and Chris Whittington got on by an error.

Dutchtown got its lone run in the first when Donnie White reached on an infield error, went to second on a hit by Jake Buratt and then scored on a Poche’s RBI groundout.

It stayed that way until the fifth when Ben Koestler doubled and then scored on Harry Ferguson’s fly-out to left field, tying it at 1-1.

&#8220He (Poche) was impressive and we took some hacks against him,” WC coach Randy Broome said. &#8220But to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. We were ready to go. Games like these should excite you.”

Things got exciting for the Vikings in the seventh against a tiring Poche. Gordon, who had made the costly error in the first, led off the at-bat by turning a long single into sliding double.

&#8220Coach always tells us, let the ball stop you,” Gordon said. &#8220I saw where the fielder dropped the ball in his hand, and I kept going.”

Broome added, &#8220He takes the extra base on that play, makes a good read during Ben’s at bat to take third base and then gets another jump again on the grounder. He showed a lot of good aggressive base running.”

After swiping third base, Gordon darted home on Koestler’s grounder to second, just beating the tag of Dutchtown catcher Jerrod Roden.

Gordon then sat Dutchtown down in order in the seventh, getting two popups and Jonathan Ettinger’s diving stop and throw out from second for the game’s final out.

&#8220We tried this 3-2-2 rotation in order to have everybody ready for Vicksburg Tuesday night,” Broome said of next week’s critical divisional matchup at WC. &#8220Right now. we’re going to do it again (today).”

Douglas went the first three innings, allowing the only Dutchtown hit. He struck out four and walked one.

Gordon went the two middle innings, striking out three and walked two. Gordon retired all six men faced and got the win. He also had two of the Vikings’ five hits.

Neville scores late to drop Vicksburg.

MONROE – Vicksburg gave away another win, but this time it was late inning walks coupled with some timely hits by homestanding Monroe Neville that did the damage in a 10-8 decision.

Neville (10-6) rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to erase an 8-4 Vicksburg lead. The loss is the Gators’ (10-3) third in four games following a 9-0 start.

&#8220We’re not a good enough team to walk people and win. We just couldn’t throw strikes and that leads to some big hits,” VHS coach Jamie Creel said.

Vicksburg had scored four times in the top of the fourth to snap a 4-4 tie. Jordan Henry knocked in the first run and Vernon Wolfe followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4. Neville starter Clint Hairston was then pulled in favor of reliever Zach LaSuzzo.

The Gators got two more runners on against LaSuzzo off a walk and an error. Steven Price was hit forcing in Wolfe for an 8-4 lead. LaSuzzo then struck out the next two Gators to prevent any further damage.

Avery Mathes, who came in relief of Steven Price, pitched a scoreless fourth but then found trouble in the fifth.

He walked three of the first five batters he faced in the fifth. A two-run single by Will Hardy made it 8-7. Mathes induced a flyout for the second out and then had Patrick Emslinger in a 1-2 hole.

But Emslinger doubled down the left-field line to score to and give Neville a 9-8 lead.

&#8220It was probably way too good of a pitch for him to hit down the left-field line, especially on a 1-2 pitch,” Creel said. &#8220That’s just the way it goes.

&#8220Basically, what’s happen is that we’re no longer getting away with the things we got away with earlier this year. But I think we’re going to be fine.”

Vicksburg had nine hits and was led by Wolfe who knocked in three runs off two hits. Tyler Wells had a pair of doubles, the first of which gave VHS a 2-0 lead in the first.

Stanton Price followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Neville tied it with three in the bottom of the first off two walks, a hit and an error.

LaSuzzo got the win in relief, striking out five while allowing just one hit, a sixth inning single by Eric Coleman.

&#8220Zach came in and threw well for us,” Neville coach Robert Bratton said. &#8220We booted some balls early and that gave (Vicksburg) some runs.”

Price allowed four runs over his three innings. Mathes gave up six off five hits and three walks to take the loss.