Cook County took a 5-0 lead in the second inning of the Friday, April 22 away game against Floodwood, then watched as the Polar Bears came back to score four runs in the top of the third to make it close. At least it was close for a short time, anyway.
Up 5-4, the Vikings added two runs in the bottom of the fourth then rallied for six in the fifth and topped the game off with three more runs in the sixth.
By the time the carnage was over the Vikings were ahead 16-5 and the game ended because of the 10-run rule. The Polar Bears managed to score one more run in the fifth.
The Vikings used four pitchers in the game. Early in the season Head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson likes to get his pitchers some game time innings, so he tends to have several people pitch a few innings each.
Andrew Miller started the game and struck out five batters and didn’t give up a run in two innings. Leo Johnson came in for Miller and pitched the third inning, giving up three earned runs. Andrew Lashinski, who recorded one strikeout over the next two innings and gave up two unearned runs, followed him. Frankie Miller shut the side down in the sixth inning to end the game on the 10-run rule.
The Viking pitchers recorded 9 strikeouts and only gave up three earned runs.
Coach Jorgenson wasn’t available for comment on Wednesday, April 27 because he was attending the Polar League Hall of Fame induction for former Viking football coach Lyle Anderson. More on that story next week.
Assistant Coach Bob Baker said the Vikings are showing plenty of offense, but added, “We need to cut down on errors.”
His squad committed five errors against Floodwood.
Owen Anderson was 3-for-5 with a homerun. Anderson drove in three runs in the fifth inning with his big hit, and kicked off the six-run rally. Jack Wieben also had a big night with his bat going 3-for-4, Leo Johnson went 2-for-3 and Andrew Miller was 2-for-3.
Collectively the team was 16-for-35, batting just under .500, and they had an on base average of just over .700 because of walks and being hit by pitches, said Assistant Coach Daniel Ditmanson.
Cook County posted 16 hits in the contest while holding the Polar Bears to 8 hits.
The Vikings’ record is now 2-0 and Floodwood is 0-1 on the season.
Cook County has a chance to put some more games in the win column, but the competition is getting stiffer. After press time the team traveled to Two Harbors on Thursday, April 28 to play the Agates and the McGregor/Cromwell Mercuries–two tough Polar League foes–in a double header that will certainly test the team’s pitching and team defense.
The next day the Vikings come home and get to play in front of friends, family, and fans in a game against the always tough Carlton Bulldogs. But the hill will become much higher on Monday, May 2 when the Vikings host the always talented and deep Esko Eskimo baseball team.
Here’s hoping they can perform like the girls’ volleyball team did against the Esko girls’ volleyball team this last fall, and pull out a win. No matter how this game turns out, it won’t hurt the team’s standings in Single A because Esko is a double A school. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
In the most recent statewide ratings Cook County received some votes in the Class A poll, but didn’t crack the top 20 rated teams. Springfield was ranked first in Class A. If the team keeps winning, the state-wide ranking will take care of itself.
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