[4/13/03]The 2003 season didn’t unfold quite the way Warren Central had hoped, but it did have a happy ending.

Andrew Simmons scattered four hits in his first seven-inning complete game of the year, and Jake Turner and Greg Carroll each had two hits and an RBI as WC finished the season with a 5-4 victory over playoff-bound Pearl.

WC (11-15) missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997, but coach Randy Broome was hoping the younger Vikings used that as a positive in the years to come.

“It’s going to be a little different sitting at home, but you’ve got to go through those things sometimes,” Broome said. “Hopefully it’s something for our younger guys to remember and hold inside for a little while, and every day from now on at practice or the summer league games, or whatever, we’re working to get better and stay away from these kinds of seasons.”

The complete game was a milestone for Simmons, who had Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow last fall. There was some question whether he would even pitch this season, but he turned into the Vikings’ ace.

“That was my first time doing that this year. It felt pretty good. I’ve been struggling to come back, had a rough year, and I think I did all right,” said Simmons, who struck out six and walked only one.

Saturday’s game was a mix of good and bad for the Vikings. They rallied to score three of their five runs with two outs, but left nine runners on base including seven in scoring position. WC also turned two double plays, but committed five errors that led to all four Pirate runs.

Still, the good outweighed the bad. The Vikings jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, and never trailed.

WC scored two runs in the first on an RBI double by Turner and an RBI single by Tom Corbin, then added another run in the second on Carroll’s RBI single with two outs.

After a pair of errors allowed Pearl (16-10) to cut it to 3-2 in the third, Zach Balthrop came through with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead to 5-2.

“Anytime you get a two-out knock and score runs, it’s always big. It doesn’t matter what game you’re playing. It came up today for us, and it’s got to continue,” Broome said.

Three errors including two throwing errors to third base led to two more Pearl runs in the fifth.

Brad McNair reached second on a throwing error to start the inning, then David Ware followed with a grounder to short. The throw sailed past WC’s Jeremy Ferguson, allowing McNair to score. The next batter, Jay Torrence, struck out but the ball was dropped by the catcher. Torrence was thrown out at first, but Ware scored when the throw to third got by Ferguson again, cutting the score to 5-4.

“Some of them were young mistakes tonight, making throws that you don’t have on a play. That cost us a couple of runs, I believe,” Broome said. “It’s just growing up, and hopefully we’ll grow up a little more. We’ve got two sophomores and two juniors, and they’ve made some boo-boos this year and hopefully they won’t make them again.”

That was as close as Pearl got, though. Simmons retired eight of the last nine batters, and ended the game with the help of a defensive gem by Ferguson.

With a runner on second and two outs in the top of the seventh, Torrence hit a one-hopper just to the third-base side of the mound. Simmons dove for it, but the ball tipped off his glove. Ferguson charged in, barehanded the ball, and threw Torrence out to end the game.

“I saw it coming over right here, and then it hit off my glove,” Simmons said. “Then I saw Jeremy come over and barehand it, and I knew he was going to make the play. He’s made them all year, so I wasn’t worried about it.”

Vicksburg 7, Terry 4

VHS rallied for seven runs in the last two innings to beat No. 6 Terry.

Justin Henry drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a single, Josh McBride doubled in a run, and Paul Gorney had a sacrifce fly for Vicksburg (16-7).

“We kind of went in lackadaisical, and we ended up fighting back and forcing the issue and were fortunate to come out with a victory,” VHS coach Jamie Creel said.

Justin Boler threw a complete game to get the win for the Gators, who will finish the regular season Monday at 7 p.m. against South Panola at Bazinsky Field.