[03/22/02]Whenever Vicksburg and Warren Central get together in any sport, the subplots are always the same the families, the friends, the rivalry, the bragging rights.

All of them are there again for tonight’s baseball game, the second of three meetings between the schools this season, but for Vicksburg, there’s a more pressing issue.

The Gators desperately need a win to get back in the Division 4-5A playoff race. VHS (9-9) enters the game with a 1-2 record in the division, two games behind WC (15-4, 3-0) and one behind second-place Clinton (2-1) for the division’s final playoff spot.

Even though it’s only one-third of the way through the division schedule, a loss would push the Gators back into the hole they started to crawl out of with Tuesday’s win over Forest Hill (0-3).

“It’s important just because it’s a district game. We need a win. We can’t afford to fall behind,” VHS pitcher Chris Middleton said. “There always is a little bit (of hype), just because it’s Warren Central, but hopefully we’ll block that out.”

Tonight’s game is less crucial for the Vikings, but would be a boost to their playoff drive. A win would put them three games ahead of third-place VHS with five to play, plus give WC a tiebreaker advantage over the Gators. If WC wins, and Clinton beats Forest Hill tonight, the Vikings could wrap up a playoff spot as early as next week.

“Vicksburg is going to be scrapping to stay alive, and hopefully we’re going to be scrapping to go up another game,” WC coach Randy Broome said. “Adding it up on paper, six wins should get you into the playoffs … But I probably won’t breathe a sigh of relief until district is over.”

The Gators have other things to worry about, too, like finding their hitting stroke. VHS has only managed 13 hits in its last three games, but has scratched out nine runs.

Shortstop Justin Henry has a nine-game hitting streak and a .400 average, and outfielder John Rohrer leads the team with a .426 average, but the rest of the VHS lineup has been inconsistent. Only four Gator regulars are hitting over .300.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten more than five hits in any of our last four ballgames, and for us to get wins, we’ve got to hit the baseball,” VHS coach Jamie Creel said.

VHS’ hitting woes are a stark contrast to WC’s output over the last week. The Vikings have 46 hits and have scored 32 runs in their last three games.

WC’s Brian Pettway enters tonight’s game with a .545 average and has seven home runs in his last seven games. The first five hitters in the Vikings’ lineup all boast averages of .333 or better.

“I feel confident enough, hitting the way we’re hitting right now, that we can beat anybody in the United States,” said WC designated hitter Tom Corbin (.250, 3 HRs,13 RBIs).

Which VHS pitcher will get the task of taming WC’s bats remains to be seen. Creel said pitchers Matt Middleton (ankle) and Boo Hardy (elbow) were banged up, limiting his options.

If either Middleton or Hardy can play, then Henry would likely get the start. If they can’t, Henry would have to stay at shortstop and a left-hander either Justin Boler, James Jackson or John Hendrix would get the ball.

Whoever starts, Henry said keeping the Vikings in check early is crucial. In their first meeting, WC scored six runs in the first inning and went on to win 6-2.

“The pitchers just have to throw strikes, and we have to play defense and avoid the big inning. Whenever we’ve lost this year, that seems like what’s always got us,” said Henry (0-1), the losing pitcher in the first game against WC.

Although players and coaches from both teams insisted their focus was solely on getting another division win and not beating their archrivals, a hint of the rivalry did shine through at times.

Henry said he’d have the usual extra hop in his step that comes from playing the Vikings, while WC left fielder Jeff Mitchell said he’d like to push the Gators back into a hole but, of course, only because it helped the Vikings in the standings.

“It’d make it a little easier for us, but it’d also be another win and that’s what we need,” he said. “We need wins in the district to take us to the promised land.”