The Vicksburg Gators have only won consecutive games once this season. They’ve lost 10 of 12 entering today’s playoff opener against Center Hill.

Considering all of that, coach Derrick DeWald’s plan to take things one pitch and one game at a time isn’t a cliché as much as it is common sense.

The Gators open the postseason at home tonight against Center Hill. They’re looking not only to survive and advance, but also to find the consistency that has eluded them all season long.

“We’re going to take it one pitch at a time. We can’t worry about five games down the road. We’ve got to worry about winning two games before we lose two,” DeWald said. “It’s very important to win that first game, because you never want to go on the road down 1-0.”

The rollercoaster ride of the Gators’ season has been on full display over the past 10 days. They earned key wins over Lanier and Callaway to finish second in Division 4-5A and earn home field advantage for this first-round series.

Sandwiched around those wins, however, were some downright ugly performances. They were outscored 29-0 in three consecutive losses Friday and Saturday, then gave up nine walks in a 14-9 loss to St. Aloysius on Monday.

Up next is a Center Hill team that has come on late in the season. The Mustangs’ overall record is 12-12, but they’ve won five of their last six. The one loss came in extra innings.

The Mustangs are also a young team. Only two seniors are in the starting lineup, and their best pitcher is sophomore Frankie Hefflinger (3-1, 2.92 ERA, 44 strikeouts in 36 innings).

“They’ve got four or five guys that can swing it,” DeWald said. “They’re on a hot streak. They’ve won four or five in a row and they’re playing a lot better ball than they were early in the year. They’re going to be tough to beat, and Game 1 is going to be critical.”