Vicksburg and Warren Central could not have gotten tougher draws in the first round of the Class 6A fast pitch playoffs.

Vicksburg (11-11) will take on Northwest Rankin, the 2009 Class 5A champ, in a best-of-three series that starts Friday at Bazinsky Park. Game 1 is set for 5:30 p.m., while Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at Northwest Rankin at 1 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will follow.

Good pitching helped the Missy Gators win five of their last six regular-season games, a big improvement over last year’s three-win season. Vicksburg won three straight games at the Richland Tournament and closed with a 4-0 shutout at Riverside.