Heading into the first of three meetings with each other this season, Vicksburg High and Warren Central are looking for the same thing — a couple of wins, and some consistency.

Both teams endured up-and-down weeks to start the season. Vicksburg lost three of its first four, despite a couple of solid efforts in defeat. Warren Central went 3-3, was outscored 31-7 in its losses and outscored opponents 26-6 in its wins.

Finding an even tempo as the division schedule begins is a major goal for both squads.

“I think it’s not inconsistent, I think it’s just figuring it out,” Warren Central coach Josh Abraham said. “We’re 3-3. We beat three pretty good teams and got beat by three pretty good teams. We’re right there. We’re right on the verge, and Tuesday would be a good day to get it rolling.”

The Vikings faced a series of big challenges last week, and came away with mixed results. They were no-hit by Terry ace Westin Stringer, then lost to a pair of Alabama powers, Hillcrest and Cullman, at the Mid-Mississippi Classic.

Mixed in with those games was a win over Jackson Academy and All-America pitcher Matt Denny, and a couple of lopsided victories over Hazlehurst and Pearl.

Vicksburg, meanwhile, struggled to score runs. In three losses, it scored a total of three runs.

Its highest output was in a 7-6 loss to Jackson Academy on Thursday, when it was able to get into the depths of the Raiders’ bullpen. Jackson Academy played an extra-inning game against Warren Central in the first half of a doubleheader that day, and used a total of five pitchers in the two games.

“The main thing is we’ve got to find consistency one through nine, and hit the baseball one through nine. Right now we’re just getting a hit here and a hit there. We’ve just got to find consistency,” Vicksburg coach Ryan Grey said.

Both coaches agreed that this week’s schedule should help with whatever ails their teams. They’ll play twice, tonight at Warren Central and Friday night at Bazinksy Field. The intensity of the rivalry is expected to bring out the best in both clubs.

“The one thing I don’t have to worry about for Tuesday is intensity, and wanting to play, and getting them up to play a game,” Abraham said. “We know them very well, they know us very well. They’ll play their tails off and play us as hard as they can. You don’t have to worry about them playing hard.”

Beyond bragging rights, the two games this week will likely factor into the playoff picture by season’s end.

Getting a sweep would not only give whoever gets it a leg up in the division race, but also a huge tiebreaker advantage down the road.

Lose both, and they’ll be scrambling to play catch up the rest of the season.