In most sports, it’s an undisputed fact that Warren Central’s biggest rival is Vicksburg High. The two schools sit about five miles from each other, their meetings in every sport draw hundreds of fans, and ensure bragging rights until the next time they get together.

Baseball, though, is different. Ever since the two Warren County schools moved to different divisions thanks to MHSAA reclassification, Clinton has ascended to the top of Warren Central’s rivalry list on the diamond — and it’s time for them to get together again.

The Vikings and Arrows will meet twice this week, Tuesday night at Clinton and Friday at Warren Central, in a battle for frontrunner status in Division 4-6A. If either team sweeps this week’s games, it will essentially clinch the division title. If they split, it’ll come down to a third meeting on April 12 at Clinton to settle things.

All of the games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

“In our opinion, it’s bigger than Vicksburg. That game means more to us than the Vicksburg rivalry game does, because that determines whether we play the first round or the second” of the playoffs,” Warren Central catcher Tyler McRight said.

Warren Central and Clinton have always been big rivals going back to the 1960s. The high stakes they’ve often played for in recent years is what’s fueled the intense baseball rivalry, however.

WC and Clinton have finished first or second in the division each of the last four years. Clinton won the division title in 2012, ’13 and 14, but Warren Central won it last year.

The series is tied 6-6 since the start of the 2012 season.

“They’re our division guy that we’ve got to go through every year,” Warren Central coach Conner Douglas said. “They’re 30 minutes up the road and it’s always a battle royale between us. It’s always a hit or two away from going one way or the other. We’re excited. It’s a big week for us.”

Coming into this week’s two-game series, Warren Central appears to have the upper hand. It has a 10-4 record, with the losses coming to four of Mississippi’s best teams by a total of six runs. Clinton (9-7) has won five in a row, but hasn’t played as difficult a schedule as the Vikings.

Warren Central has played three of the top four teams in the Maxpreps.com statewide poll. WC, which is ranked 10th, will be the first Top 10 team Clinton has played.

Douglas said the way the Vikings have competed during their difficult first half of the season has him feeling good about this week even though they’re coming off a 2-0 loss to Brandon. That was the first time Warren Central had been shut out in 62 games.

“Right now, I like our chances with anybody because we’re pitching and playing defense,” Douglas said. “It’s the offensive things. We’ve got to come up with those couple of hits when we get them out there, and we’ll match up with anybody.”

Both teams are only 3-0 in the division and still have to make another trip through the lineup after this week. Warren Central has to make up two rainouts with Murrah, as well. Given the struggles of Murrah and Greenville — they’re a combined 2-12 this season — there’s little doubt, however, that the winner of the season series between Warren Central and Clinton will once again be the division champion.

“I think next week is going to be the division championship. Hopefully we can come out with two (wins) and game three we get to relax a little bit. But right now we’re worried about Tuesday,” Douglas said.

The division championship comes with another prize, as well. The first-place team gets a first-round bye in the Class 6A playoffs and homefield advantage in the second round. McRight said the Vikings know from experience how valuable that can be, and want nothing more than to lock it up early.

Warren Central got the bye last year and then beat Grenada in the second round before falling to eventual Class 6A champion DeSoto Central in the quarterfinals.

“The bye week is huge. Unbelievably huge,” McRight said. “That means we don’t have to waste our arms that much. We can give them that much more time to prepare, that much more time to rest. It’s unbelievably huge. We proved that last year.”

WARREN CENTRAL VS. CLINTON

• Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Clinton

• Friday, 7 p.m., at Warren Central

• April 12, 7 p.m., at Clinton

• Records: WC (10-4); Clinton (9-7)

• The skinny: Longtime baseball rivals Warren Central and Clinton have finished first and second in Division 4-6A each of the last four years. They’ll play twice this week and again on April 12 to decide the division title once again.