SOUTHAVEN – Vicksburg High sophomore Stanton Price became a surprise starter in the second game of the Class 5A state playoffs Thursday night in Southaven.

No one could have been more miffed than the host Chargers.

The lefty Price carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a pair of meaningless hits as the Gators defeated University of Memphis recruit Josh Ross and the Division 1-5A champions, 4-0.

Earlier Thursday, the Gators knocked Warren Central into the losers’ bracket with a 9-7 win. VHS coach Jamie Creel, who planned to start Steven Price against Southaven, had to use the senior in a relief role to put down Warren Central.

The move proved prophetic as Stanton Price controlled Southaven’s offense from the start.

&#8220We’ve been working real hard in the pen the last couple weeks and (Stanton) really put it all together against Pearl with his ability to throw every pitch for a strike,” said Creel, whose team will meet the winner of today’s 4 p.m. game between WC and Southaven. &#8220He was absolutely phenomenal tonight.”

Stanton Price entered the seventh inning having only thrown 59 pitches. He got into a little jam in the inning, loading the bases with two outs, but was able to strike out Ryan Short to end the game. Price struck out six and did not walk a batter.

&#8220I just wanted to come out and help the team,” said the soft-spoken Price. &#8220This was a big game, a crucial game.”

Although Price found a little trouble in the seventh, the offense had supplied him with enough of a cushion off one of the top pitchers in the state.

The Gators held a 2-0 lead going into the seventh when Tyler Wells, who had four hits over two games, crushed a fastball over the 400-foot mark in center field for a 3-0 lead. Stanton Price then doubled and pinch-runner Delmon Robinson scored on an error for a 4-0 advantage.

&#8220It was a 3-1 count,” Wells said of his home run. &#8220I knew he had to come with a fastball and I sat on it.”

The Gators’ three hits in the seventh matched their total for the first six innings. Ross, who has been clocked at 91 mph, pitched seven innings and struck out eight Gators. He was hurt by a couple of costly defensive miscues.

Jordan Henry led off the first inning with a bunt single down the third base line. Ross fielded the bunt and launched the throw deep into the right-field corner, allowing Henry to move to third. He scored on an Eric Coleman groundout for a quick lead.

&#8220I was telling people in the dugout that if the third baseman is on the grass, I’m gonna try to lay one down,” said Henry, an Ole Miss signee. &#8220A lot of times at this level if you lay down a bunt, you will get on.”

The speedy senior shortstop provided the Gators’ second run as well, thanks in part to some nifty baserunning. He singled in the top of the sixth and advanced to second on a throwing error. A dropped routine fly ball by Southaven second baseman Hunter Parham allowed Henry to score from second for a 2-0 lead.

&#8220I thought the keys to the second game tonight was Jordan’s speed on the bases and Stanton’s pitching,” Creel said. &#8220Jordan really took their pitcher out of rhythm when he got on the basepaths.”

VHS 9, Warren Central 7.

Vicksburg built a 9-4 lead riding the left arm of Avery Mathes, then had to hold on to knock off the rival Vikings in the first game Thursday afternoon.

A tiring Mathes walked the first two batters in the top of the sixth before being replaced by Henry.

Henry gave up a two-out single to Nick Carson, walked two and watched the infield commit an error that allowed WC to get to within two runs.

Creel turned to Steven Price in relief and the right-hander got Ben Koestler to fly out about five feet from the centerfield wall to end the inning with the bases loaded.

&#8220We were stinging the ball all night long, but everything we hit, they were there,” WC coach Randy Broome said. &#8220It’s one of those games that’s just frustrating.”

In the seventh, Price gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Calhoun, then struck out Harry Ferguson and coaxed a double-play groundout by Jeff Ward to end the game.

Steven Price and Wells led Vicksburg with three hits each, while Eric Douglas singled twice and hit a rocket home run – his eighth of the season – over the left field wall in the third.

The Vikings had Thursday night off, but must now win three straight games to advance in the playoffs. They will have to beat Southaven today at 4, then defeat the Gators in two straight games. The two Warren County rivals have met four times this season with Vicksburg winning three.

&#8220We better come ready to play tomorrow or it will be our last game,” said Douglas, who is scheduled to start the Southaven game. &#8220All of us want to keep playing and winning. We have to find that focus, though, and not slack off in the middle innings.”