Randy Broome has been a part of Warren Central’s baseball program for more than 25 years, through all of the ups and downs that entails.

He’s not sure he’s ever seen a run like the one the Vikings are on this spring.

Warren Central has won 17 of 18 games since mid-March and is in the MHSAA Class 6A semifinals for the second straight season, following a second-round sweep of Grenada. It’s the first time in school history it’s reached the semfinals two years in a row..

“We flipped a switch somewhere. We were 2-7 and stayed the course. Trusted some things and trusted each other,” said Broome, WC’s head coach. “I don’t know that we’ve ever gone on a run like this and we sure never went to North State twice.”

Warren Central (20-9) will play Saltillo (22-5) for the Class 6A North State championship in a best-of-three series beginning Monday at Viking Field. Game 2 is Tuesday at Saltillo, and if Game 3 is needed it’ll be back at WC on Wednesday. All three games will begin at 7 p.m.

It’s a rematch of last year’s second-round series that Warren Central won in three games, on the way to its first appearance in the state championship series since 2001.

This year’s Vikings have already surpassed last year’s win total after a shaky start. They had a 3-8 record after a loss to Biloxi at a spring break tournament on the Coast on March 13. They’ve only lost once since then, won the Region 2-6A championship, and swept their first two playoff series against Center Hill and Grenada.

Broome said it has been a total team effort, with a deep lineup and pitching staff combining to create a special season.

All nine starters have had a hit and scored a run in one of the four playoff wins. The only starter who doesn’t have an RBI is outfielder Ryan Steed, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, and he has reached base seven times and scored a run in 13 plate appearances.

As a pitching staff, the Vikings have only allowed seven runs in 27 innings. Five pitchers have combined to walk four batters and strike out 24.

Starters Nathaniel Moore and Maddox Lynch have turned in four quality starts to keep Broome from having to use his bullpen too much, but the relievers have stepped up when needed. Justin Greer worked his way out of an inherited jam in the sixth inning of the Game 2 clincher vs. Grenada and Caden Cole earned a save with a scoreless seventh.

“It’s a team win. That’s how it’s been through all of this,” Broome said after the win over Grenada. “It’s three, four, five guys. It’s not just one guy doing it. It’s up and down the lineup, and it’s whoever we’re putting on the mound doing a great job and handing it to the next guy.”

Broome said the contributions throughout the lineup have not only made the Vikings a championship contender for the second year in a row, it’s made them a fun team to watch with no weak spots. He’s hoping it lasts a while longer so they can get back to Trustmark Park for the state championship series that begins May 21.

“It makes you realize there’s a lot of guys that can, whether it’s a defensive play or on the mound or a certain at-bat. And even some guys that can come out of the dugout,” Broome said. “It’s a really good feeling. It’s a special thing that’s been happening the last few weeks. We’re enjoying the ride for sure and looking forward to the next one.”

WARREN CENTRAL VS. SALTILLO
MHSAA Class 6A semifinals
Best-of-3; x-if necessary
Monday, 7 p.m. – Saltillo at Warren Central
Tuesday, 7 p.m. – Warren Central at Saltillo
x-Wednesday, 7 p.m. – Saltillo at Warren Central
• Admission: $11.50; tickets must be purchased online through GoFan.co