The Vikings shut out the Babbitt-Embarrass Knights, 10-0, in five innings on Friday, April 16. Above: Freshman Luke Fenwick slides to third. Fenwick also played well at bat, earning three RBIs. Right: Pitcher James Groth gave up only one hit in five scoreless innings on the mound.
The Cook County Vikings’ baseball team split two games last week to bring its overall season record to 3-1. After a disappointing 5-9 loss in Carlton on Tuesday, April 13, the Vikings had an impressive home performance on Friday, April 16 when they shut out the Babbitt-Embarrass Knights 10-0 in five innings.
In the top of the first inning in Carlton, Drew Holmen started with a one out single. Holmen then stole second and third base before scoring on a Jacob Rude groundout to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored three runs on Rude and the Vikings in the bottom half of the first when they got three hits and took advantage of a critical Cook County fielding error. The Vikings trailed 1-3 after one inning.
Cook County’s Colin Everson started the second inning with a walk. After stealing second base, Everson advanced to third base on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch. Three straight Viking strikeouts ended the top of the second inning with Cook County back within one, 2-3.
Despite not being able to produce a hit against Rude, the Bulldogs scored two more runs in the bottom half of the second after a leadoff walk and Viking fielding error led to trouble for the Vikings. Cook County trailed by three runs, 2-5.
The Bulldogs added three more runs in the third inning, but the Vikings could only muster one hit in the next two innings and Carlton led 2-8 after four innings of play.
In the top of the fifth, James Groth led off the inning with a walk. Holmen followed with a single. After a Viking strikeout, Hansen drove in Groth on a single, but the rally stalled out after two more Viking strikeouts. Carlton added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-9 lead into the sixth inning.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, the Vikings needed at least six runs in the final inning to keep the game alive. Holmen started the inning by getting to second base on a Carlton fielding error. Holmen advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rude then walked and senior Darryl Hansen hit a triple for two RBIs as Cook County trailed 5-9 with no outs in the seventh inning. The rally didn’t last, however, as Hansen was stranded on third when the Bulldogs got three straight outs from the Vikings.
Following a tough road loss and continuing a tough stretch of play without both Kale Boomer and Dylan Quaife, the Vikings gave the ball to senior James Groth against Babbitt.
In the top half of the first inning Groth was sharp, striking out the first two batters before getting the third out on a grounder to shortstop Jacob Rude.
The Vikings then put runners in scoring position with men on second and third with only one out. Babbitt snuck out of the jam after getting the Vikings to pop out which was followed by a ground out to first base.
The second inning started with a Viking fielding error and a runner on base for Babbitt. Groth got the next hitter to ground into a fielder’s choice and then took matters into his own hands and struck out the next two Knights to end the top half of the inning.
Following a Viking strikeout to start the top half of the third inning, senior Cody Anderson and junior Jake Plahuta each drew walks. Both stole bases to put Cook County runners on second and third base with only one out. Freshman Luke Fenwick came through with a single that drove in two runs. After another Viking strikeout, senior catcher Drew Holmen drove in Fenwick on a hard hit double to give the Vikings an early 3-0 lead after two innings of play.
It took Groth only 14 pitches in the top of the third inning to retire the three Babbitt hitters he faced, as the Vikings went right back to work at the plate. Daniel Ditmanson led off the inning by drawing a walk. He promptly stole second base and subsequently scored on a single by Anderson. Fenwick got his third RBI of the game, knocking in Anderson after a fielding error by the Knights. Groth answered with another single to bring in Fenwick. After a Viking groundout, the Vikings got another run when Rude drove in Groth on yet another Babbitt fielding error. The Vikings had a 7-0 lead after three innings of play.
The fourth inning produced no runs for either team, as Groth was back on the mound in the top of the fifth. Following two strikeouts, Groth had runners on first and second before getting a fly out to centerfield to end any chance of a Babbitt rally.
The Vikings scored three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning when they took advantage of two wild pitches, two hit batsmen, and three walks by the Knights. Cook County claimed the 10-0 win when Darryl Hansen scored the final run following a walk.
Groth gave up only one hit in five scoreless innings on the mound. He struck out eight batters while only walking two. It took Groth only 66 pitches to earn the complete game shutout.
Fenwick went two for three for the Vikings with three RBIs and two runs scored. Groth, Holmen, and Rude each added two hits for Cook County.
The Vikings are now 3-1 on the season. Cook County played at home against Silver Bay on Tuesday, April 20 after this edition went to press. The Vikings play in Two Harbors this Thursday and are on the road again at Duluth Marshall on Saturday. Look in next week’s edition for all the scores and highlights.
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