On paper, pitching was a big question mark for Warren Central heading into this season.

The Vikings’ best pitcher from 2005, Parker White, had elbow surgery in September. The numbers two and three men in the rotation both graduated. And the top available hurler didn’t start a game last season.

After one month of baseball, though, there aren’t any more questions. Just a couple of answers named Nick Carson and Eric Douglas.

The two seniors have teamed up to carry the WC rotation to a 4-0 start in division play heading into this week’s games against archrival Vicksburg. With two more wins, the Vikings will have their first division title since 2002.

Douglas and Carson have started nine of WC’s 14 games and have a combined record of 4-2. A third senior, Josh Gordon, has started two games and is 3-2. Of the three, Gordon has the highest ERA at 2.00.

&#8220One reason is the summer league. They got some good work in there,” WC coach Randy Broome said in explaining his pitchers’ strong start. &#8220Two is, they’ve taken that opportunity and run with it.

&#8220They probably wanted to pitch more last year than they did. Sometimes a lack of experience is not always a bad thing.

&#8220Those guys are gritting their teeth over there on the bench and waiting for their turn.”

Both Douglas and Carson got plenty of playing time last season, just not on the mound.

Carson hit .327 and stole 20 bases as a center fielder, while Douglas hit .350 and was second on the team with 29 RBIs while playing left field and third base.

When it came to pitching, though, they were buried on the depth chart behind White and seniors Zach Balthrop and Drew Warnock. Douglas and Carson combined to throw 33 2/3 innings in 2005.

Douglas did manage to earn five saves as the Vikings’ closer, but sported an 0-4 record and a meaty 3.68 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. In 2004, as a sophomore, he was 2-0 with a 4.04 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. This season, Douglas has already thrown 25 1/3 innings.

So when Balthrop and Warnock graduated and White went down with his injury, the lack of experienced arms was a big concern for Broome and the Vikings.

&#8220Going into the year, we were more worried about how our pitching was going to hold up than anything. Ed and Nick hadn’t thrown a lot on the varsity level,” Broome said.

Broome’s concerns were soon eased. Douglas took his two losses in his first two starts, a pair of heartbreakers against Louisville and Clinton in which he pitched well. Then, in his third start, Douglas came up with a masterful performance that rocketed the Vikings to the top of the standings.

In the Division 3-5A opener against Madison Central, he no-hit the Jaguars for five innings. WC won the game, 5-3, and Carson followed that up with six solid innings against Madison three days later as the Vikings won 5-4.

The two wins against the team that was ranked No. 2 in the state at the time, and favored to win the division, gave WC a leg up in the championship race.

The following week, the two WC aces took turns beating up on hapless Greenville-Weston. The Hornets, who were outscored 53-0 in their first four division games, were no match for the Vikings. Douglas struck out 13 batters and allowed two hits in a 10-0 win at WC, while Carson threw a five-inning perfect game in which he struck out all 15 batters.

&#8220As far as a confidence booster, it got the ball rolling and let us know we could play with anybody,” Carson said. &#8220We realized the pitching has been holding up pretty good. It’s one of the least things we worry about now.”

The two performances were part of an ongoing rivalry between the two, one in which WC is the biggest winner.

&#8220We mess with each other. The first time we went against Greenville I had 13 strikeouts and he had to do better. He did,” Douglas said. &#8220We like to see whose stats are better. I told him the next time we play Greenville I hope I get to pitch again and have another shot at it.”

Before that, however, the Vikings have to deal with Vicksburg.

WC and VHS will play two games this week that could decide the division championship. If WC wins, it will clinch the title and host a regional in the first round of the playoffs.

Vicksburg is a game behind the Vikings in the division standings, and needs at least one win to stay alive in the race. Two wins would put the Gators in front.

Standing in VHS’ way are WC’s two senior aces, hungry for an elusive division title and a little respect.

&#8220I hope if we get Vicksburg out of the way, we’ll be a little more confident in our game and people will start to notice us. It’s going to show whoever we play in the playoffs that we come ready to play,” Douglas said.

If you go.

Thursday, 6 p.m. – WC hosts Vicksburg.

Friday, 7 p.m. – Vicksburg hosts WC