Above: Viking catcher Richie Furlong chased No. 3 almost to third base before flipping the ball to Jack Weiben who made the tag for the out. Frankie Miller, meanwhile, covered home plate for the Vikings. Far left: Hard-hitting Joe Borud pounded the ball up the middle for a single in this at bat. Left: Leo Johnson delivers a strike against the Two Harbors Agates on this pitch.
In a season shortened by an extended winter, the Viking baseball team is in a race to play as many make-up games as they can before Section 7A playoffs begin May 24 in Esko. So far the team has had seven games rescheduled due to weather related reasons.
The Vikings traveled to Ely, on Saturday, May 3 to face the Timberwolves on their home field and lost 14-3.
With the loss the Vikings’ record fell to 1-3 while Ely’s record went to 3-0.
The boys played Moose Lake/Willow River on May 8 in Moose Lake and lost 9-6.
On May 5, the boys traveled to Silver Bay and beat the Mariners 10-6. The next day they traveled to Esko and lost 9-0 to the Eskimos. On May 8 they suffered a tough loss to Moose Lake/ Willow River, 9-6, in a game that was close throughout.
On May 12 the team lost a heartbreaker 13-12 to South Ridge and on May 15 the boys took on Barnum at Barnum and lost a tough game 5-2.
Wrenshall came to town May 19 and the Vikings beat them 14-7. Leo Johnson pitched five strong innings and Joe Borud came in the last two innings and threw two great innings, said Viking pitching coach Dave Furcht. “He just mowed down the last three batters, striking out two of them and forcing a ground-out to end the game,” Furcht said.
Leadoff hitter Owen Anderson was 4-5 at the plate to lead the Vikings in hitting against the Wrens.
The next night the Vikings played Northeast Range at home and won 10-0. Rory Bakke threw a complete game shut-out for the Vikings.
“The team just got behind him and played really well,” Furcht said. “Rory’s confidence is up and when his curveball is on he’s tough to hit.”
Jamie Wick nearly hit one out of the park in the last inning to drive in the Vikings’ last two runs and Owen Anderson made several great catches in center field. Once again Richie Furlong called a great game from his catcher position and the fielding was solid throughout the game, said Furcht.
“The team’s confidence is up. We are young but we have 6-7 pitchers and we are hitting the ball well and not striking out very much. All season we have been getting ready for the playoffs and I would have to say we are ready,” said Furcht.
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