Vikings are going strong

Published 10:54 am Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Softball

The Vikings (6-0) beat the Darrington Loggers (0-2) in a 3-2 nail biter at Buck Park on March 26.

Darrington took an early 2-0 lead with Orcas getting only on the board by the bottom of the third inning after a hard hit triple by Emma Minnis and a single by Lana Bronn.

“We didn’t hit as consistent as we have been, our offense was anemic,” said Coach Scott Harris.

Despite the offensive lapse, the Vikings kept the Loggers tied up with an impressive outing by pitcher Aliviah Garcia with 10 strikeouts and excellent defensive. Harris said it was the defense that kept them in the game until the sixth inning when Garcia doubled and got on base. Alicia Susol then belted a well-hit double, sending home the tying run, balancing the game 2-2.

Minnis went to work in the bottom of the seventh inning leading off with a hit followed by a bunt by Alenna Garcia, advancing Minnis toward second base. The Logger catcher attempted to throw out Minnis at second, but the defender mishandled the throw causing Viking Coach Jason Nichols to wave Minnis home where she beat the throw home and scored he winning run. The Orcas crowd erupted in applause.

“It was a close game; Minnis went 2/3 hitting, scored two runs, Lana Bronn 1 /2 hitting, an RBI, Aliviah Garcia and Susol both with doubles and RBIs,” Harris said.

The Vikings next host Friday Harbor for a double header on April 5.

Baseball

The Viking baseball team secured their first win at home against the Darrington Loggers (0-4) 13-3 after five innings on March 26.

Coach Jim Passer said the Vikings cut up the Loggers early scoring five runs in the first inning and scoring in all but the second inning. Pasha Bullock pitched the entire game finishing with an impressive seven strikeouts and only two walks while offensively adding three runs on three walks and a hit. Devon Stanzione had two runs and two RBIs on one hit and Rylan Date had three RBIs on two hits.

“All starters scored and we looked good, the boys came out to play. It’s nice to get the first win,” Passer said.

On March 29, the Vikings (1-3) traveled to Cedar Park Christian Mount Lake Terrace (3-2) for a 9-6 loss against the Lions. Miles Harlow pitched “a good game” despite the score according to Passer, saying the defense let him down on a variety of errors. The Lions scored four runs in the first inning on three Viking fielding errors, digging Orcas an early deep hole. After two innings the Vikings trailed 6-2 but battled back with a run in the fifth and three runs in the seventh inning helped by Devon Stanzione, Kyle Masters and Anthony Kaskurs with two RBIs each.

“It was too little too late,” Passer said. “It was a beautiful day, the sun was out, but the boys did not come ready to play. We did not field the ball very well.”

The Vikings next play at Concrete on April 9.

Golf

The Vikings golf team hosted a slim Friday Harbor team with only two freshman players on March 22. The Orcas players had a good match led by William Coe shooting a 44, Graye Parnell 45, Mara Nutt 56, Peter Miller 61 and Zach Kostechko a 69.

The Vikings traveled to Snohomish Golf Course on March 26 to play Shoreline Christian in what Coach Justin Taylor called, “a fun but tough course due to narrow holes lined by trees, so you can get in trouble easy. We had a great match on a beautiful day with a fun group of players.”

Leading the Viking squad was William Coe with a 47, Graye Parnell 51, Mara Nutt and Zach Kostechko 70 and Peter Miller a 72.

The Vikings travel to Lopez on April 4.