meet in Southaven showdown|[4/20/06].

Jamie Creel’s phone did not stop ringing for the greater part of Wednesday afternoon.

Whether it was coordinating the correct departure time, worrying about a too-short mailbox at his house or talking with coaches, it was a constant barrage.

It’s been like this for most of the week as the Vicksburg High baseball coach prepares to take his team on a three-day jaunt to North Mississippi for the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

It probably won’t make any difference to him, but Creel is not alone.

Warren Central coach Randy Broome has been running the same routine, setting up meals for 30, hotel rooms for a team of high school boys and trying to worry about their first round opponent.

The Gators (16-7) and Vikings (18-9) are scheduled to meet for the fourth time this season at 4 this afternoon at Southaven High School. The winner is scheduled to turn right around and play the top-seeded Chargers at 7. Rain is forecast for today and Friday in the Southaven area, so this could turn into a marathon road trip.

&#8220It makes for some hectic preparations,” Creel said. &#8220When that first pitch comes out of the hand, I think everyone will be all right.”

The new baseball playoff format is set up for eight three-team mini-tournaments with the winner of the double-elimination tournament advancing to the second round. Vicksburg, Warren Central and Madison Central all finished with the same division record, and the Jaguars won the championship by way of a tiebreaker. Vicksburg’s victory over the Vikings on April 4 resulted in both local teams traveling.

&#8220I think when you look at 1-9 in the batting order and the guys we have coming off the bench in key situations, we are a lot like Vicksburg,” Broome said. &#8220I think it’s going to boil down to who is ready to play. It’s who gets their mind right.”

It also sets up an intriguing first-round matchup between two teams that know each other as well as any two in the state. Many of the players from each team grew up playing together in youth leagues and have been battling for years.

Vicksburg has seen Warren Central ace Eric Douglas (4-4, 1.32 ERA) and Nick Carson (5-1, 1.24 ERA) twice this season, while the Vikings have faced Vicksburg’s two top pitchers in Steven and Stanton Price.

The Vikings instead will look to senior Josh Gordon in the opener, while the Gators will counter with Avery Mathes. Whichever team wins the first game will invariably see Southaven’s best pitcher tonight, so sending each team’s No. 3 pitcher to the mound is more strategy than anything else.

The two teams also enter the postseason riding reverse waves. The Vikings are coming off a lifeless 8-4 loss to Brandon on Monday, while Vicksburg is fresh off a strong 21-hit performance against Pearl in Saturday’s regular-season finale.

As a team, Vicksburg has two players – Jordan Henry (.535) and Steven Price (.522) – hitting over .500. Gordon leads the Vikings with a .443 average and six homers. Douglas hit a bomb in Monday’s loss to take the team lead with seven home runs.

The tournament will continue Friday, weather permitting, and may finish on Saturday afternoon, depending on wins and losses. The winner of this regional will get the winner of the Northwest Rankin regional.

The Cougars are the defending Class 5A champions and a favorite to repeat.

&#8220I wouldn’t think there would be a team in the state that would swap places with any of the three teams in this tournament,” said Creel of the demanding tournament field in Southaven. &#8220This will be the toughest three-team regional in 5A. And two of them are going to the house.”

Driving Directions.

Vicksburg vs. Warren Central.

at Southaven.

I-55 North to exit 289 (Goodman Road). Turn right and follow Goodman to Airways. Turn left on Airways, then left at the first traffic light (Rasco). Follow Rasco to four-way stop (school is on the left) and continue to first left after the 4-way. Field is on the left.

St. Aloysius vs. Nanih Waiya.

at East Webster.

Take Misisssippi 25 toward Starkville and exit on Mississippi 15 North in Louisville. Follow 15 to Mathiston. At the four-way stop, turn right and go up hill and pick up 15 North again. Follow to Maben. After leaving Maben, go about five miles until a Cumberland/East Webster sign. Turn left.