With all the talent that graduated from the Warren Central baseball program, many Vikings fans wondered if coach Randy Broome was leaving too.

Broome put those rumors to rest, saying Tuesday that he turned down an overture from Ridgeland High School and will remain the Vikings’ skipper for the 2007 season.

&#8220It would’ve been a lateral move. I’m staying at Warren Central,” Broome said.

Later that afternoon, Broome went to work trying to mold another Viking outfit as WC opened its summer season at Viking Field against Class 5A runner-up Madison Central.

Broome faces his most challenging task of his tenure. The Vikings lost nearly 90 percent of its pitching, including all four starters, and nearly 80 percent of its offense. Six of the team’s eight seniors are moving on to college baseball.

Josh Gordon, Eric Douglas, Nick Carson, Parker White and Jonathan Ettinger have signed with former WC coach Sam Temple’s Hinds Community College Eagles while catcher Ben Koestler will walk-on at Delta State.

&#8220People look at the all-county team and the reason we’ve got as many on it is because they’re all moving on to college baseball,” Broome said. &#8220Those guys were a special group.”

Over the past two seasons, the group helped the Vikings become one of the state’s top teams.

In 2005, they beat eventual 2006 state champion Hattiesburg in a first round series. This past spring, they beat state finalist Madison Central two out of three times and also beat semifinalist Northwest Rankin, with its ace in statewide Player of the Year in pitcher Todd McInnis on the hill, 2-0.

&#8220In the playoffs, you need some breaks. Last year, we were inches from a grand slam at Gulfport that would’ve won Game 2. This year, we ran into a really good club from Vicksburg,” Broome said. &#8220Over the last two years, we’ve hit .400 in the playoffs. And this year’s team, after hitting .335, may have been the best offensive team in Warren Central’s history.

&#8220But in 5A, you need that one guy to be the guy and we haven’t had it.”

Over the course of this summer’s 30-game schedule, Broome will be auditioning everybody for a chance to step into the pitching void.

&#8220Just grab the roster and start counting,” Broome quipped. &#8220But that’s how we found Jake Turner and he went on to become a great closer for us.

&#8220Guys like Chris Whittington and Kyle Calhoun and Matt Traxler got some innings last year and they’ll be our top three, but everybody is going to get a chance to throw.”

Harry Ferguson hopes his call will be near the end of the list. He’s happy taking over for Koestler as the Vikings’ catcher.

&#8220They’re looking at everybody, but hopefully they don’t put me out there because I haven’t pitched since the fifth grade,” said Ferguson, whose live bat promoted him from a pinch-hitting role into the regular lineup. This summer, he’ll be asked to carry the load.

&#8220I’m in the three-hole and that’s a big job. I’m working on putting the ball in play and driving people in,” he said.

&#8220Our style is going to change,” Broome added. &#8220We’re probably going to have to play more small ball.”