Warren Central catcher Anna Jones applies the tag to Natchez’s Ashley Mitchell during the Lady Vikes’ 9-2 loss on Tuesday. Warren Central bounced back to win the second game, 8-6, and almost assured itself a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs. Natchez won the division championship. (Melanie Duncan ThortisThe Vicksburg Post)

[9/24/03]On a day full of birthdays, both Warren Central and Natchez High got presents.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-2) split a two-game series with division rival Warren Central (10-6) to virtually assure themselves of the division championship with a 9-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Lady Vikes Field, one day before coach Leigh Ann Mason’s birthday.

WC coach Lucy Young will also celebrate a birthday on Wednesday and her Lady Vikes need only a win over Vicksburg to earn a playoff spot thanks to an 8-6 win in the second game.

“We wanted to win both of them,” said Mason, whose team had to play the completion of a game earlier in the year that was rained out with Natchez leading 6-2. “We fouled out and struck out and that is not like us.”

The Lady Bulldogs added three runs in the fourth inning of the first game and kept WC off the board for the final three innings before the second game started.

“We’ve been off for a week and a half and all we did was practice, practice, practice,” Mason said. “Practice is boring and I think we came in a little laid back.”

After opening the second game with a three-run outburst in the top of the first, Natchez watched as the Lady Vikes scored four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Candice McKay, who was also celebrating a birthday, highlighted the rally with a two-out, two RBI double in the first inning.

“I guess we just linked a couple big hits together,” said WC’s Tranyce Peoples, who went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs as part of Warren Central’s 11-hit attack. “We knew we needed to win this game to make the playoffs.”

Natchez tied the game 4-4 in the third inning on an RBI double by Tracy Davis. Davis went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Chelsea Hall added two hits and two RBIs for the Lady Bulldogs.

Warren Central bounced back in the bottom of the third with four more runs on six hits. Peoples highlighted the rally with an RBI double, while Cookie Johnson and Amanda Doyle each had an RBI single. Doyle went 3-for-3 in the win, and Keisha Blue belted a double and a triple with an RBI.

Neither team threatened again until Natchez loaded the bases in the top of the sixth. Hall and Tasha Davis each had RBI singles, but Blue got Ashley Mitchell to foul out for the third out leaving the bases loaded.

The Lady Bulldogs went down in order in the seventh to end the game.

Natchez and WC each have to play Vicksburg, a team that has won only two games this season, but both teams have a substantial run lead on the Missy Gators.

Even so, Young is not conceding a trip to the playoffs.

“They have to play Vicksburg again and if they have an off day and Vicksburg is on … there is nothing settled yet,” Young said. “You don’t count on any of that until it all goes down. That’s just wishing bad luck on yourselves.”