From Staff Reports

One bad inning caused Warren Central’s baseball team fits throughout the 2007 season and on Tuesday it happened again.

West Ouachita scored eight runs in the fifth inning en route to an 11-7 victory over the Vikings (0-1).

“The biggest thing is our sophomore arms,” WC coach Randy Broome said of his young pitching staff. “We have told them all season that we will be counting on you and you have to perform.”

Jason Pettway pitched four strong innings before being removed because of a high pitch count. Colby Key and John Michael Harris each pitched relief with Harris taking the loss.

Johnathan Longmire led Warren Central offensively with a double and a three-run home run in a five-run third inning that gave the Vikings a 5-2 lead. Heath Carroll singled twice and Jimmy Elliott doubled for WC.

West Ouachita scored two in the first and one in the third before erupting in the fifth inning.

WC added two in the sixth, but went quietly in the seventh.

“We showed signs. Pettway threw well and we played good defense,” Broome said. “We threw a couple out at home. … But there is always room for improvement.”

The Vikings are scheduled to play No. 8 Brookhaven in the first game of the Mid-Mississippi Classic scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 4:30 at Brandon High.

Vicksburg High is scheduled to play at Brandon Thursday at 7.