Above: Charging hard for home plate, Connor Somnis was safe all the way. The Vikings beat McGregor 2-1. Left: Andrew Miller pitched a gem of a game against Moose Lake/Willow River, striking out 12 batters. Despite his great effort, the Vikings fell in 9 innings 3-2.
Every week until the end of the season will be busy for the Vikings, and last week was no exception.
Against Two Harbors on Tuesday, May 9, the Vikings began to play some baseball.
Facing Easton Best, Two Harbors ace, the Viking countered with Andrew Miller.
Both pitchers threw very well. Two walks and a hit yielded the first run for Two Harbors in the first.
The game turned in the fourth when a one-out walk and a hit put runners on first and second for Two Harbors. A ground ball to second base followed and we were out of position to execute the double play. A two out hit drove in one and the other scored when we threw the ball around, committing two errors. A ground ball to short ended the threat, but two crucial runs were in. Another two out error created the opportunity for another run in the fifth.
Without the three unearned runs, said head coach Arleigh Jorgenson, the game would have been tied at 1 after seven.
Andrew finished the game by giving up four hits, striking out four, and walking four. Easton Best gave up three hits, walked five, and struck out seven before being relieved in the seventh. A rematch was held in Two Harbors two days later, but in the meantime, they had to face McGregor at home the next day.
Vikings win!
On Tuesday, May 11, Ethan Sporn pitched a gem of a game for us versus McGregor, said Coach Jorgenson.
“He struck out nine and gave up three hits through seven innings. He walked just one, and sure enough, the runner scored on Ethan’s own error, and our only error of the game, with two outs! It was their only run.”
The Vikings didn’t score any runs through five innings. In the sixth, however, a walk to Erik Lawler and back-to-back hits by Connor Somnis and Dillon Sjogren scored two runs, just enough to secure an exciting 2-1 win.
“We were able to draw four walks during the game and managed five total hits,” Jorgenson said.
The next day the Vikings traveled down the road to play Two Harbors again.
Two Harbors has Vikings’ number
“Our rematch with Two Harbors the next day didn’t go as well. We lost 9-1,” said the coach.
“In total, we gave up nine hits, walked four, struck out four, and committed three errors. Tristen Bockovich pitched three innings, Dillon Sjogren two, and Erik Lawler one. Offensively, we had four hits. Andrew Miller was two for three, Tristen Bockovich drew a walk in the fifth inning and was driven in by Wyatt Baker.
“Bockovich singled in the seventh. We struck out nine times and walked just once.
“Keller Conrow pitched an outstanding game for Two Harbors,” Jorgenson said.
Vikings fall to Moose Lake Willow River in extra innings
As the season has gone along the Vikings’ sophomore pitcher Andrew Miller has gotten better and better. Against Moose Lake/Willow River on Monday, May 15, Miller was outstanding.
Still, despite the fine pitching, the Vikings lost 3-2 in nine innings.
“Yes, it was a very tough loss at Moose Lake,” said Coach Jorgenson.
“Andrew Miller had 12 strikeouts through six and two-thirds innings. He walked just one and gave up two hits.
“We scored first in the third on a hit by Tristen Bockovich, a stolen base, and a throwing error by their third baseman on a ground ball by Colton Furlong. Moose Lake tied it in the fifth on an error and a two out double. Moose Lake took the lead in the sixth on a walk and a hit. This was the only earned run given up by Andrew,” said the coach.
Erik Lawler relieved with two out in the seventh, and held Moose Lake/ Willow River through the eighth and one out in the ninth. “Our fifth error of the game allowed the second hitter in the ninth to reach. A hit was followed by a strikeout, for two outs. A drive over the head of Furlong in left created a walk-off win for Moose Lake,” said Jorgenson.
When asked if his team is starting to peak, Jorgenson responded,
“I can’t say we are peaking. We were unable to secure a win, even with superb pitching. Errors on the defensive side did us in. Two of their runs were unearned. And, offensively, we could muster only four hits, two by Bockovich, and two by Miller. We struck out seven times and walked twice. We stranded runners in scoring position six times, twice on third base with one out.
“Now we will head to Mesabi East on Friday, May 19, Wrenshall next Monday, and North East Range a week from Friday. Playoffs begin on May 30.”
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