Warren Central started what it hopes will be a triumphant victory lap to the MHSAA Region 2-6A softball championship.

Sydney Hern homered for the second game in a row, and Whitley Parks was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored as the Lady Vikes crushed Ridgeland 21-0 on Thursday.

The victory followed a win over perennial state power Neshoba Central that put the Lady Vikes (11-11, 6-1 Region 2-6A) on a glide path to the region title. They needed to beat Ridgeland (4-11, 2-4) and Vicksburg High (5-13, 2-3) in their last two region games to clinch. Warren Central beat Vicksburg 18-0 the first time the teams met this season. The teams will play next Tuesday, April 15, at 6:15 p.m. at VHS.

Warren Central had also run-ruled Ridgeland 22-0 in their first meeting, and Thursday’s rematch was no different. The Lady Vikes started the game with three consecutive hits to jump out to a 2-0 lead, and the first eight batters reached base. By the end of the first inning it was 10-0.

Hern’s three-run home run was part of an eight-run burst in the second inning. She also walked once and scored two runs.

KeKe McKay was 2-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Anzley Keen had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, and Addi Mullen reached base twice, scored two runs and drove in two more. Madison Pant also had three RBIs.

Emily Muirhead pitched all three innings in the run-rule shortened game. She allowed one hit and had five strikeouts.

Loyd Star 5, Vicksburg 4
The Vicksburg Missy Gators erased most, but not all, of an early deficit and lost to Loyd Star (16-5) on Thursday.

Ainsley Gennaro hit a two-run double to help Loyd Star jump out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Adi Holcomb added an RBI single in the second inning, and then Vicksburg pitcher Lili Kistler held the Lady Hornets scoreless the rest of the way.

Vicksburg clawed back into the game by scoring twice in the second inning, and once each in the third and fourth, but stalled after that. It left two runners on base in the sixth inning and was retired in order in the fifth and seventh.

Harmony Harris had two hits and scored a run for the Missy Gators. Kistler was 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, Makynzie Dunmore had one RBI and Avery Van Norman scored a run.

The Missy Gators (5-13) will play a doubleheader Saturday at Region 2-6A rival Columbus (1-18, 0-6), and can secure the No. 3 seed from Region 2-6A if they sweep. They’ll also host Warren Central Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.