From staff reports

Vicksburg High’s baseball team made history Saturday, reaching the third round of the state playoffs for the first time ever.

Brian Fitzgerald pitched 5 2/3 innings and Stanton Price got out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings for a 7-4 victory over Oxford in the third game of their best-of-three series.

The Gators (24-7) will host New Albany, a winner over West Lauderdale, at Warren Central on Friday night.

Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday in New Albany.

The Gators were leading 5-4 in the sixth and Oxford had runners on second and third when VHS coach Jamie Creel turned to the senior Price, who pitched a complete-game win Friday night.

The first batter he faced hit a shot to center field, but Delmon Robinson made a fantastic catch to end the threat.

In the seventh, Oxford again put runners on second and third, but again Price worked out of it to secure the victory. The Gators had added two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead.

Price led Vicksburg’s offense with two singles, a double and two RBIs. In two playoff series, he is 12-17 at the plate, has three pitching wins and a save.

Trey Prentiss hit a two-run home run, while Fitzgerald went 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI. Bowen Woodson also had an RBI single for Vicksburg.

Grenada 8, Warren Central 3

Grenada eliminated Warren Central from the Class 5A state playoffs on Saturday, the Chargers’ second win over the Vikings in as many days.

Heath Carroll had two hits for WC, but the Vikings committed eight errors, including three in the bottom of the first that led to four Grenada runs.

“Jason Pettway pitched well enough for us to win,” said WC coach Randy Broome. “He threw ground balls and fly balls, but you have to field and catch.

“On the flip side, we have to swing the bats to stay alive.”

Trailing 8-1 in the top of the seventh, the Vikings scored two runs and had the bases loaded. Dustin Hardin drove a shot deep to left, which was snagged with a nifty over-the-shoulder catch. The runner on third tagged up and appeared to score, but the umpire ruled the runner left early, ending the game.

Seven of the eight runs WC allowed were unearned and Pettway took the loss.