The Vikings played three games this week and advanced to the second round of the Section 7A tournament. Above: Darryl Hansen gives it his all, sliding into home in one of the doubleheaders played against Thunder Bay on Tuesday, May 25. Right: Relief pitcher Clay Gruber-Schultz had a great week, finishing by striking out two of four Cromwell hitters in the fifth to preserve the Viking playoff victory of 13-1 on Saturday, May 29.
The Cook County baseball team played three games this past week. On Tuesday, May 25, the Vikings played a doubleheader against a Thunder Bay select team that is comprised of the best talent in the greater Thunder Bay area. Neither game against Thunder Bay went against the overall season record. Cook County lost the first game 12-10 before getting ten-runned in the second game 12-0.
The Vikings match-up against Thunder Bay was a good warm-up for the playoffs. On Saturday, May 29, the Vikings beat the Cromwell Cardinals 13-1 in five innings to advance to the second round of the Section 7A tournament.
Against Thunder Bay, the Vikings struck first in the bottom of the first inning when senior James Groth walked. Groth circled the bases on three passed balls as Cook County took an early 1-0 lead.
Thunder Bay answered with four runs in the top of the second as they sent eight batters to the plate and took advantage of a key Viking fielding error. The Vikings were unable to score in the bottom half of the inning as Cook County trailed 4-1 after two innings of play.
With one out in the top of the third, Groth started the Viking offense with a single. After a Groth stolen base, Jacob Rude hit an RBI single, scoring Groth. A passed ball moved Rude to second before Darryl Hansen smacked a single to score Rude. Thunder Bay struggled behind the plate as Hansen and Colin Everson both scored on passed balls. Dylan Quaife added another run, scoring on Everson’s double, as the Vikings took a 6-4 lead.
Thunder Bay added a run in the top of the fourth inning while the Vikings were retired in 1-2-3 fashion as Cook County held onto a one-run lead, 6-5, after four innings of play.
In the top of the fifth, Thunder Bay erupted for seven runs as they were helped out by three wild pitches and a passed ball. The Vikings now trailed 12-6.
Cook County scored four more runs in the game, but the rally came up short when the Vikings couldn’t score in the seventh inning. Cook County came out on the wrong side of a 12-10 loss.
In the second game, Cook County was ten-runned in five innings, losing 12-2. Despite reaching base on a few walks, the Vikings only managed three hits. It was good practice, however, for the Vikings’ three young pitchers. Alex Murray, a seventh grader, junior Clay Gruber-Schultz, and junior Jesse Johnson all had quality time on the mound.
On Saturday, May 29, the Vikings matched up against the Cromwell Cardinals at home in the first round of the Section 7A tournament. Senior Jacob Rude took the mound for the Vikings. Rude struck out two of the four hitters he faced in the top of the first to shut down the Cardinals.
In the bottom of the first with one out, Groth hit a triple. Rude singled to score Groth. Next Rude stole second base and got to third on a Cardinal fielding error that allowed Hansen to reach first. Jesse Johnson followed with an RBI single as the Vikings led 3-0 after one inning.
Rude once again made short work of the Cardinals as the Vikings went right back to work at the plate. TheVikings scored seven runs in the bottom of the second inning. Three walks, a passed ball, two wild pitches, and a Cardinal fielding error combined with a triple by Rude made for a tough inning for Cromwell. Cook County sent 13 batters to the plate in the second inning. The Vikings now led 10-0 after just two innings of play.
Following a scoreless third inning, the Cardinals scored a run in the top of the fourth. Cook County answered promptly, however, as the top of their lineup: Drew Holmen, James Groth, and Jacob Rude all scored to give the Vikings a 13-1 lead.
In relief, Gruber-Schultz finished the Cardinals in the top of the fifth by striking out two of four hitters to preserve a 13-1 victory. Rude led the way by going four-for-four with four RBIs. Thespeedy Groth scored three runs in the game. The Vikings have 102 stolen bases for the season, which is the best in the area. The Vikings are now 6-10 on the season.
With the win, the Vikings advanced to the second round of the Section 7A tournament where they faced the Floodwood Polar Bears on Wednesday, June 2 after this edition went to press. Look in next week’s edition for all the scores and highlights.
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