Rory Bakke drove the ball down the first base line for a single in this at bat. The boys averaged 6.33 runs over six games and outscored their opponents 38-19 but only managed to split the week-long series 3-3. The team is in the heart of the season and Head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson said every game would be played with the thought of preparing for the playoffs.
The Viking baseball team played six games in seven days with mixed results.
On Thursday, April 28, the Vikings traveled to Two Harbors to face the Agates and the McGregor/ Cromwell- Wright Mercuries in a doubleheader and came away with a win and a loss.
Leo Johnson took the mound and got the shutout 17-0 win for the Vikings against the Mercs. Leo struck out two, gave up two hits and walked three batters over four innings. He was 3-5 from the plate with five RBIs.
Owen Anderson was 4-5 from the plate, scoring three runs and getting one RBI. Frankie Miller was 4-5 with four RBIs, Jack Wieben was 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored and Rory Bakke was 3-4 with two RBIs, and he scored twice.
Two Harbors’ pitcher Easton Best threw a complete 2-0 shutout game against the Vikings, striking out five, walking three and giving up four hits. Anderson was 2-4 against Best, Wieben 1-3, Jaret Baker 1-3, and Jake Bilben 1-3, but otherwise the Agate pitcher seemed to have everyone else’s number.
Frankie Miller pitched five strong innings for the Vikings and was relieved by his brother Andrew Miller.
Vikings shutout Carlton
The boys played the Carlton Bulldogs at home on Friday, April 29 and won 12-0 in four innings. Bakke got the win for the Vikings striking out three in three innings. He gave up one hit and one walk before Andrew Miller replaced him in the fourth and final inning.
At the plate Andrew Miller was 2-4, Andrew Lashinski 2-2, Colton Furlong 2-4, Bakke 1-2, Bilben 1-3, Josh Prom 1-3, and Wieben 1-3. The Vikings finished with 10 hits in the contest.
Loss to Esko at home
Esko came to town on Monday, May 2, and if not for some untimely errors, this was a game that could have been much closer than it was at the end with the Vikings losing 7-1.
Bakke was 2-3, Leo Johnson 2-4, Baker 1-2, Anderson 1-3 and Frankie Miller 1-4.
“We gave up three unearned runs and made too many errors,” said Coach Arleigh Jorgenson. “Frankie Miller started and pitched the first three innings and struck out two batters. His brother, Andrew pitched the next three innings and struck out four. Tristen Bockovich pitched the seventh inning for us. We had our chances but didn’t take advantage when we could. That loss hurt.”
Vikings beat Bombers on the road
On Tuesday, May 3 the Vikings made the long bus ride to Barnum to play the Bombers and took the game 11-4.
“Leo Johnson threw six strong innings for us,” said Jorgenson.
Johnson gave up three hits: four walks and struck out 11.
“We played really well against Barnum,” Jorgenson said. “Almost everyone got a hit in the game. Johnson was 2-4, Wieben was 2-4, and Andrew Miller was 2-2. It was a good outing for our team.”
Vikes lose a heartbreaker to South Ridge
The next night the Vikings played South Ridge at home and lost a heartbreaker 6-3 in an extra inning.
Lashinski took the mound and struck out 9 batters in five innings. He gave up three unearned runs. “He was tremendous for us,” said Jorgenson. “The only runs they scored on him came on our errors.”
Andrew Miller came on in relief and had two strikeouts and gave up three earned runs.
Down 3-2 going into the seventh inning, with Baker on third, Furlong laid down a perfect suicide bunt to score Baker and send the game into extra innings.
In the eighth inning, now down 6-3, the Vikings’ first two batters Andrew Miller and Bakke both singled. Johnson hit a long fly ball to right field that was caught and the fielder held Miller to second. Jaret Baker was up next and he hit into a double play to end the game.
Baker ended his night going 2-3 from the plate and Bakke was 2-4.
“That was a tough loss for our club,” Jorgenson said. “The kids are really disappointed right now. We knew South Ridge was good. They were in the section semi-finals last year. We know South Ridge, Ely, Cherry, and Deer River are all going to be tough games and all of us want to go to state.
“But I would have to say that our team has improved a lot. We are taking games and breaking them down inning-by-inning. We are trying to take one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves. We are breaking the game down as small as we can right now. Our goal is to enjoy the games and to get ready for the playoffs. All of this is preparation for that. I can say that the kids are enjoying the great fan support they are getting and I can say that this is a real fun group to coach.”
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