The Cook County Vikings junior varsity baseball team hosted the Wrenshall Wrens in a full 7-inning game on Monday night, May 7. The Vikings, consisting mostly of eighth-graders and four high schoolers, were taking on a team of all high school players that beat the snot out of this Viking squad last year.
Andrew Fenstad-Lashinski started on the mound for the Vikes and struggled with control early. A 2-out error allowed the first run to score and a walk and two wild pitches allowed the next run.
After the Vikings stranded two runners of their own it was 0-2 in favor of the visitors after one inning. Andrew settled down in the second and retired the side after a nifty double play turned behind him by second baseman Rory Bakke throwing out a runner coming home and Richie Furlong gunning out a runner trying to advance to third on the same play.
Joe Borud came out to relieve Fenstad-Lashinski in the middle of the third and the Viking defense cruised from there, allowing only one more run the rest of the game.
The bottom of the third, though, is when the Viking bats came alive. Rally starter Charlie Lawler got things cooking with a walk and Richie Furlong followed with a single. Jacob Schroeder drove the ball into left field for a nice hit that plated two runs. Sean MacDonell drove a double into the gap to score Schroeder and tie the game up. Big Mac scored on a wild pitch to give the Vikings their first and lasting lead of the game.
Rory Bakke singled, stole second, and scored on Fenstad- Lashinski’s single. The Vikings would score 3 more runs in the game, including Douglas Pervais’ hard fought walk in the fifth and stolen 2nd base. On the next pitch he came flying around the bases with the Viking bench cheering him on as Borud knocked him home with a double.
Borud ended the game with 8 strikeouts and the young Vikings played solid defense, committing only 2 errors on many chances.
The 9-6 win is a big improvement from the beat-down the Wrens gave the Vikings last year.
The Vikings continue their busy week, when the varsity will host the Two Harbors Agates with the JV following. The Vikings also host the Floodwood Polar Bears and Northeast Range Nighthawks on Thursday, May 10 and Friday, May 11, both games starting at 4:00 at Arleigh Jorgenson Field.
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