Randy Broome is beginning to sound like a cracked 45-speed vinyl record.

His postgame remarks could be pre-printed and picked from his back pocket – one for a win, one for a loss.

&#8220We didn’t show up ready to play tonight,” Broome said after a longer-than-normal pre-playoff talk following an 8-4 loss to Brandon in the regular season finale at Viking Field. &#8220When this team shows up physically and mentally ready to play baseball, we are tough to beat. When we don’t, we are a below-average team.

&#8220We’ve been harping on it all season. We have to show up ready to play. If we don’t do it this week, we are back on the bus, coming home and going fishing.”

The Vikings (18-9) begin the run through the Class 5A state playoffs on Thursday in a double-elimination, three-team tournament in Southaven. WC will battle archrival Vicksburg in the first game Thursday afternoon.

Broome certainly hopes it’s the Vikings that have notched wins over then-No. 1 Northwest Rankin and two over then-No. 2 Madison Central that show up.

It wasn’t the team playing Monday.

Brandon battered three Warren Central pitchers for 11 hits and used a five-run third inning to break open a still close game.

Brandon used four pitchers to hold WC to four runs on four hits.

&#8220We were trying to get everyone some pitches tonight,” first-year Brandon coach Neil Bartling said. &#8220Fortunately tonight, our pitchers came out and did a great job.”

Eric Douglas’ solo home run in the fourth and Kyle Calhoun’s RBI double in the sixth accounted for the bulk of Warren Central’s offense. The top four hitters in WC’s order went a combined 2-for-12. Josh Gordon walked twice and singled, but scored three runs.

Shea Snowden pitched two innings of relief to earn the win. He allowed Douglas’ homer and a single by Ben Koestler.

Warren Central trailed 7-3 in the fifth before the Bulldogs added a run in the fifth. Brandon left five runners in scoring position and had the bases loaded in the fifth with one out against Jeff Ward.

The Viking reliever, though, struck out Jake Ponder and coaxed a flyout by Kyle Tabor to end the inning. The Vikings added their final run in the bottom of the sixth.

&#8220I’ve thought about running them. I’ve thought about letting them hit, but now it’s beyond that. Now, it’s about what they want to do,” Broome said. &#8220If they want to go home early, let’s go home early. I’m not ready to go home early.”