Seniors get their first win against Hillman

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

For the senior trio of Nick Idalski, Nathan Strzelecki and Nick Delekta, Monday?s win against Hillman in the second game of a doubleheader was their first ever against the school?s baseball rival. It was the sweetest victory of the season and one that put them into a tie in the North Star League race with a 7-1 record. The Vikings record is 10-11 overall, after a 5-1 week. Behind solid pitching from Tyson Klecha and clutch hitting by Brandon Beach, the Vikings won game two against the Tigers, 3-1. They lost the first game of the twin-bill, 11-4.

With the score tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the third, Scott Couture reached base when he was hit-by-a-pitch. Aaron Romel sacrificed him to second. Justin LaPointe, who was two-for-three in the game, stroked a base hit and stole second, and set the table for Beach. The junior ripped a single between first and second to bring in Couture and LaPointe. It would be a lead that would hold up. While coach Kowalski is unsure of the last time Posen got a win against Hillman, he knows it is the first for his seniors. Kowalski credited Idalski on one of his best games of the season behind the plate. He threw out three runners on the bases. ?It couldn?t have come at a better time,? said Kowalski. Klecha improved to 5-2 on the season (6 IN, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 K?s, 1 W).

HILLMAN OUT HIT Posen in game one, but the Vikings sent a message to the visitors that they were ready to play. While Hillman put up a three spot in the first inning, the Vikings countered with four runs in their half of the inning. Romel, who started on the mound, hit his second homer of the week, which provided the big blow. LaPointe (two-for-three) delivered a double, while Idalski singled. The bats went cold from that point on. Romel went the entire six innings, and while he gave up 13 hits, he struck out eight and allowed no walks. The Vikings had back-to-back sweeps last Wednesday and Thursday against Mio and Alcona. They defended the home field last Thursday against visiting Mio,

16-6 and 4-0. Strzelecki and Klecha were a combined four-for-five with five RBI in game one. Klecha got the win on the mound. Kowalski sent LaPointe to the mound in game two to see how his arm would hold up. He pitched two solid innings with three strikeouts and no walks, but physically he is still isn?t ready to go longer than that. Idalski came in and kept Mio in check and locked up the win. Back on April 30, the Vikings won a couple of wild games, 10-9 and 8-5. The boys were down 9-1 heading into the top of the fourth. Romel led off the game with a homer, but the bats didn?t come alive again until the fourth.

Luke Bruski?s two-run homer was the catalyst of a huge eight run inning to tie the game. The game winner came in the top of the seventh when LaPointe delivered another key hit with two out to bring in Couture, who led the inning off with a single. The Vikings came back in game two after trailing 5-3. Idalski had a homer himself. There was a parade of pitchers with Idalski, Shane Hentkowski and Klecha, who pitched the final three innings to get the win. Next on the schedule are road games tonight at Arenac and Monday at Fairview.

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