After giving up a couple of runs to Jim Hill on Monday night, Lamar Anthony got the ball back and walked slowly toward the mound. In a mix of frustration and bemusement, he gently tossed it into the air and snapped his hand toward it.

The gesture wasn’t because his first — and probably last — stint on the pitcher’s mound cost his team the game, or even put them in a bad spot. Anthony’s anguish came from the knowledge that he’d be ribbed mercilessly upon his return to the dugout for a comically mediocre performance.

Taylor Brocato went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBIs, while Travis Haas and Clyde Kendrick drove in three runs apiece as Vicksburg blasted Jim Hill 20-3 on senior night at Bazinsky Field.

The Gators (12-13) scored 11 runs in the second inning, allowing them to laugh it up in the dugout, substitute their entire starting lineup after the third inning, and truly enjoy the last game of the regular season.

“They’re fun, and it also gives us a chance to be ourselves,” Brocato said of the lopsided contest. “We don’t have to be serious. We can let the young guys play and just have fun.”

Brocato pitched three hitless innings before giving way to Anthony, the team’s starting center fielder. Anthony, a junior, is a college prospect in the outfield but had never before pitched in a high school game. He stuck mostly to fastballs but also mixed in a few curves, and was on the way to escaping a two-on, no-out jam when Vidal Cox drove in two runs with a single to left field.

Anthony gave up three hits and three runs total, laughing his way through most of the inning as his teammates poked fun from the dugout.

“I would’ve liked him to finish the no-hitter, but it’s all fun and games,” Brocato said while trying to stifle a laugh. “Center fielder coming in to pitch. It’s like seeing (New York Mets shortstop) Jose Reyes pitch. Not likely.”

Kidding aside, this was not only a fun win for the Gators, but also a momentum-building one. They’ve now won two in a row and feel encouraged heading into Thursday’s playoff opener against South Panola. They collected 12 hits — including three each by Brocato and Justin Pettway — and followed up a victory over Brandon with one that was about as easy as anyone could have hoped for.

“We’ll have to hit the same way we did tonight” in the playoffs,” Brocato said. “If we get the bats rolling and cut out our errors, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”