For any high school program, a reliable left-handed pitcher is worth his weight in gold. Having one that can throw strikes with a little velocity is even better.

As Jamie Creel thinks about his pitching staff and rattles off names, though, he’s a little disappointed. Only three lefties are on it this year.

&#8220That’s actually kind of down. We’ve had as many as seven,” Creel says, before adding with a smile, &#8220But you can get by with three.”

It helps that two of his three lefties, Stanton Price and Avery Mathes, each had an ERA under 2.00 last season and earned nine of the Gators’ 17 victories. The other lefty, Stanley Bufkin, did not pitch last season.

Price and Mathes are expected to be dominant again this spring, forming the core of a strong pitching staff that should carry Vicksburg a long way.

&#8220I feel like our staff is as deep as it’s been since I’ve been here,” Creel said. &#8220I feel like we have seven or eight quality guys.”

Although only three of those are left-handed, it hasn’t been for a lack of trying on Creel’s part. He’s made a hobby of developing ordinary players into decent southpaw pitchers.

Since 2000, Vicksburg has had seven lefties see significant time on the mound. The other three Warren County schools – Warren Central, St. Aloysius and Porters Chapel – have had 10, combined, in that same span. And one of those was Justin Boler, who played three seasons at Vicksburg before transferring to PCA for his senior year.

That number is no accident or coincidence. Creel said he’ll take any young lefty and try to make a pitcher out of him, whether he throws 90 mph or 75 mph.

&#8220Our philosophy has always been, if they can throw left-handed, they’re going to learn how to pitch,” Creel said.

Over the years, they’ve learned pretty well.

Combined, Vicksburg’s southpaws have gone 48-24 since 2000, recorded 462 strikeouts and thrown 414 1/3 innings. They’ve ranged from flamethrowers like James Jackson, whose fastball topped out at 90 mph, to junkballers like Boler and his 75 mph fastball.

Creel said lefties are naturally dominant on the high school level because hitters see more right-handers early in their baseball careers, and have a hard time adjusting to the different angle.

&#8220A lefty can get away with more than a righty. If you’re a righty and throw 85 in this league, he’s going to get torn up. A lefty who throws 75 mph is going to have more success,” Creel said. &#8220The hardest thing for a high school kid to do is hit the ball away. When it comes in from a lefty, they try to go with it and can’t do anything with it.”

Price added that just being a lefty gives him a psychological edge over some hitters.

&#8220It really does help your confidence, because you feel like you have an edge,” Price said.

The lefty luxury is not the only reason the Gators have high hopes for this season. They also have a few right-handed pitchers – Steven Price, Vernon Wolfe and Stefan Gibbs – who can hold their own.

And the lineup is as potent as anyone’s. The Price brothers, Wolfe, Jordan Henry and Gerald Mims combined for 38 extra-base hits last season, and all five are back this spring.

&#8220So far, we’ve been really good hitting the ball,” said Henry, a shortstop who led the team in average (.341), hits (28), on-base percentage (.429) and RBIs (22) last season. &#8220Even though our pitching staff is good, our lineup is right up there.”

The Gators may need every bit of talent just to compete in their own division. Vicksburg was lumped in with state powerhouse Madison Central, which was undefeated in the regular season in 2005, and always-tough Warren Central.

All three teams will benefit from an expanded playoff system that puts three teams from each division into the postseason. But the Gators won’t be satisfied with simply surviving the regular season. Creel feels the ingredients are there to make a strong postseason run.

&#8220I think everything is there. If we play solid defense down the stretch, our hitting and pitching will be there for us to make a deep run in the playoffs,” he said. &#8220You’ve got to beat everybody eventually anyway, and I like the way we’re stacking up against everybody.”