Warren Central began the busiest and most critical part of its baseball schedule exactly the way it wanted to — with a victory.

Maddox Lynch hit a two-run home run, Connor Watkins allowed one run and struck out nine batters in six innings, and the Vikings went on the road to beat Ridgeland 5-2 on Friday.

Lynch’s homer in the first inning got the Vikings rolling. They added an unearned run on an error in the third inning, and two more runs on a double by Cade Fairley in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

Ridgeland’s Parker Ishee hit an RBI single in the top of the seventh, and a walk brought the tying run to the plate. Lynch then replaced Fairley on the mound and got a strikeout and a ground out to end the game and earn a save.

Watkins got the win with a solid pitching performance. He walked five batters and allowed three hits, but only one run in six innings. He also walked twice and singled once at the plate.

Because of rainouts that need to be made up during the last week of the regular season, Friday’s game was the first of six for the Vikings in eight days. All of them are against MHSAA Region 2-6A opponents.

Warren Central (8-10, 2-1 Region 2-6A) and Ridgeland (13-9, 5-2) will play again Saturday at 7 p.m. at WC’s Viking Field. Warren Central will play a doubleheader Monday against Columbus, and then two games against Vicksburg High on April 16 and 19.

Tuesday’s WC-VHS game will be at Vicksburg, and the one next Friday will be at WC.

Neshoba Central 19, Vicksburg 0
Ryder White struck out 12 of the 16 batters he faced in a five-inning no-hitter as Neshoba Central (13-7, 3-2 MHSAA Region 2-6A) snapped Vicksburg High’s (7-13, 3-2) four-game winning streak.

Will Williams was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored for Neshoba Central, which blew open a close game by scoring nine runs in the third inning and nine more in the fourth.

Kealon Bass drew a two-out walk in fourth inning to become Vicksburg’s only baserunner.

The Gators will play two game next week against Warren Central, Tuesday at WC and April 19 at home. Both games begin at 7 p.m.