When the magic finally ran out for Warren Central’s slow-pitch softball team, there were certainly some twinges of disappointment. After all, the Lady Vikes were only two wins away from playing for a state championship, close enough to start thinking of plans and dreaming of celebrations.

There were also plenty of smiles and a sense of pride.

The Lady Vikes were swept in the MHSAA Class III semifinals by Wayne County on Tuesday, 13-2 and 14-11. It was the deepest postseason run for the program since 2000, and the first time they’d been past the second round since the current series-based playoff format was adopted in 2001.

The 2000 team won two series, and then claimed the North State championship at a four-team state tournament in 2000.

“It’s definitely disappointing, but with the season as a whole we’re exceptionally happy,” Warren Central coach Dana McGivney said. “The fact the kids played hard and didn’t quit, there’s not much more you can ask.”

There might have been ample opportunity — and reason — to throw in the towel against Wayne County (30-4), which advanced to face Neshoba Central in the best-of-three championship series Saturday in Ridgeland.

Wayne County scored six runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1 and cruised to a 13-2 win shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. That was just the second loss in eight playoff games for Warren Central (18-10).
Warren Central only had four hits. Two were solo home runs by April Lynn and Dominique Caldwell.

“They scored six in the first inning and I don’t think we were ready for that. They hit well and we didn’t hit at all,” McGivney said.

Game 2 started much the same way. Wayne County scratched a run across in the bottom of the first inning, then got a three-run home run by Paige Powe in the third to go up 5-1.

Kaylee Hoeft singled in a run for Warren Central in the top of the fourth inning, and then Wayne County struck for eight runs in the bottom half. Brannigan Holifield, Brook Jordan and Powe all homered in the fourth as the

Lady War Eagles once again led 13-2 and threatened to close out the game via the run rule.

Warren Central, however, refused to go quietly. Kaitlyn Mitchell drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and Hoeft had another RBI single to prevent the mercy rule from kicking in and extend the game. Kelsey Lockridge then singled in a run and two more scored on an error on the play to cut it to 13-7.

Laura Reagan Logue hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and then Cocoa Fultz and Lynn started the seventh with back-to-back home runs to cut it to 14-11. A single and a walk brought the tying run to the plate with only one out and sparked dreams of a most remarkable comeback, but it wasn’t to be. A pop up and a ground out squashed the rally and ended the game, series and season.

“We didn’t start hitting until the middle of Game 2,” McGivney said. “It might have been nerves. We had a big crowd, and I’m not sure they were used to playing in front of that many people. We just didn’t hit like we have been hitting.”

Going through that experience, however, is one of the benefits McGivney hopes carries from slow-pitch season in the fall to fast-pitch season in the spring.

Warren Central, like many teams, takes a more laid-back approach to slow-pitch. Winning and losing are important, but it’s often akin to a fall ball season where getting defensive reps and exposure to various situations is the key takeaway.

In that, McGivney said, the Lady Vikes learned a lot this fall.

“It’s more about getting playing time and being in pressure situations. We definitely use it as a learning tool and a chance to better ourselves,” she said. “I think it can help with some of the younger kids stepping up and making plays in pressure situations, and knowing we can compete with some of the top teams in the state.”