Getting ready to deliver the ball, hard throwing lefty Andrew Miller has been for the most part unhittable this year. Miller has good velocity and his pitches often come with movement, curving left or right, and usually land in the catcher’s glove right where they were supposed to go. Staff photo/Laurie Johnson
After winning 10 straight games, the CCHS Vikings dropped a game to Carlton and one to International Falls over another busy week of high school baseball. And, oh yes, they added three more W’s to their win column and have climbed to a fourth-place ranking in the Minnesota Class A baseball rankings.
Vikings over Grizzlies
Playing Thursday, May 16 at North Woods, the Vikings broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the sixth when they scored three runs on an error. The Vikings ended with 4 runs in the sixth and tacked on 3 more in the seventh to win 12-5.
Adam Dorr, who has been rock solid all year on the mound, started this game but was chased early after giving up three runs on seven hits over three innings. Andrew Miller relieved Dorr, pitching one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out three and not giving up a walk. Joe Deshampe and Dillon Sjogren pitched in relief, closing out the game. Miller was credited with the win.
Levi Sheils, Andrew Miller, and Aram Falter each got two hits for the Vikings. Cameron Roy stole two bases, and the Vikings stole seven on the night.
The Grizzlies ended their night with 11 hits and five runs in front of their home crowd.
Vikings fall to Carlton
The next day the Vikings traveled to play the Carlton Bulldogs and suffered defeat, falling 5-3.
Taking a rare loss, Andrew Miller pitched five and two-thirds innings, striking out 11, but giving up five runs on six hits.
Aram Falter singled in a run in the second inning to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Vikings held the lead until Carlton’s Tanner Anderson singled in the go-ahead run for the Bulldogs in the sixth inning, which saw the Bulldogs push three runs across the plate.
Joe Deschampe had a great day at the plate, going 3-3 to lead the Vikings in hitting. Deschampe, Josh Prom and Aram Falter each had one RBI in the game. The Vikings scored one run in each of the first three innings before being shut down by a Carlton defense that didn’t commit an error.
Cameron Roy and Andrew Miller also each had one hit in the game.
Vikings win against Blackduck
The Vikings were down 1-0 until rallying for three runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 victory over the Blackduck Drakes, playing the first game of a doubleheader in Ely on Saturday, May 18 in Ely.
Tristen Bockovich had an excellent outing for the Vikings, pitching a complete game striking out three, allowing three hits and not allowing any runs.
The Blackducks’ Ian Frenzel took the loss on the mound for the Drakes, going seven innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and striking out six.
Josh Prom and Andrew Miller each had two hits while Connor Somnis collected two RBIs. The Vikings didn’t make any errors in the game with Joe Deshampe getting the most plays in the field with nine.
Vikings fall to International Falls
Playing the second game of a doubleheader in Ely on Saturday, May 18, the Vikings fell 13-2 to the International Falls Broncos.
The Broncos got out to a 4-1 first inning lead and kept tacking on runs in the second, 5 in the third, and 2 more in the fourth while holding the Vikings to two runs over five innings.
Adam Dorr took the loss for the Vikings; Adam gave up 11 hits and 11 runs over three innings.
Connor Somnis had a great day at the plate going 2-3. Connor Somnis drove in two RBIs, and Andrew Miller led the team with two hits.
Vikings beat Thunder Bay
Playing their neighbors to the north on Tuesday, May 21, the Vikings came from a one-run deficit to beat Thunder Bay 6-4.
In the second inning, Levi Sheils singled in a run past the Lakers’ shortstop to kick start the Viking offense. The Vikings were down 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth before a Thunder Bay Lakers’ error allowed them to score two runs and take the lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Andrew Miller started on the mound. Over two innings Andrew allowed two hits, striking out six and allowing no runs.
Dillon Sjogren came in and took the win, pitching two innings while allowing no hits and striking out two and walking one. Both Josh Prom and Adam Dorr also took a stint on the mound, with Dorr getting the last three outs to preserve the victory.
Once again the varsity racked up nine hits. Josh Prom, Levi Sheils, and Aram Falter each recorded two hits. Joe Deschampe, Andrew Miller, and Dillon Sjogren also each got one hit. Sheils recorded two RBIs and also stole two bases.
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