The halfway point of the high school baseball season is fast approaching, and Warren Central is hovering just above the .500 mark. The Vikings have dealt with injuries and had a couple of off days, and struggled to beat some of the better teams on their schedule.

None of it concerns head coach Conner Douglas.

“When you look at it on paper, (6-4) looks bad. But when you look and see we’ve lost to an Ole Miss signee, a Southern Miss signee, and then in the 10th inning to another 6A power, you’re like, ‘Where are we really?’” Douglas said. “So I’m not frustrated by our record. All we’re doing is playing the next game.”

The next game is against yet another Class 6A power. The Vikings are headed to the Coast this week for three games against Gulfport (6-0), Harrison Central (5-4) and Memphis’ Christian Brothers (2-0) at the Battle of the Beach.

The three-day run begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Gulfport, last year’s Class 6A runner-up. It’s a set that Douglas said should be both fun and beneficial for his squad, even if it might be difficult to earn a sweep.

The game against Harrison Central on Friday night will be played at MGM Park, home of the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers.

“All of the tournaments around here are fading and they started to put one together. It’s a good time to go down there and play teams you haven’t played before. It’s kind of like a mini-vacation, but you’re also getting to play some baseball,” Douglas said. “It’s three quality teams and we get to play at MGM Park, so that’s another fun experience for the guys.”

Warren Central had gotten on a roll just before spring break by putting together a four-game winning streak. That was snapped with a 9-8 loss — on a walk-off home run — to perennial state power Madison Central.

The Vikings have also lost in 10 innings to Northwest Rankin and by two runs to Faith Academy (Ala.) this season.

Despite the ups and downs, they’re hitting .323 as a team. Even discounting the 38 runs they scored in a doubleheader sweep of overmatched Provine last Friday, the Vikings are averaging 6.5 runs per game, and the pitching staff has allowed two runs or less five times.

Throw in some injured players who are expected back for the second half of the season, and Douglas is far from pessimistic about the way the first half has gone.

“I like where we are. We’re playing good defense, we’re throwing the ball well, and our hitting is starting to come around. Pitching is always ahead of hitting, so I like where we are right now. The guys are really starting to swing it and see it good, which I think is going to be a strong point for us before it’s all said and done,” he said. “We’re starting to get some bodies back that have been banged up and hurt. It’s starting to come together for us.”