Comeback by Vikings ends Hurons’ baseball season

2308-RC baseball by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

A three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning propelled the Posen Vikings past the Rogers City Hurons in the first round of district play last Saturday. The loss ended an up-and-down season for the Hurons (18-17), who came into the tournament with a six-game winning streak, but had not played a game since May 20. Senior John Rhode started the game for coach Howard Madsen, and went the first six innings. He allowed three hits and walked three. Rogers City led 5-3 heading into the last inning. After a walk to Tyson Klecha, who led off the seventh inning, Joe Finch came on in relief of Rhode. Shane Hentkowski?s bunt turned into an error, which scored Klecha from first base and put Hentkowski on second base with the potential tying run.

AFTER A FLY out to Bret Karsten in centerfield, Justin LaPointe reached on a throwing error. Finch got Nick Delekta to pop out, bringing clean-up hitter Nick Idalski to the plate. He drilled the first pitch he saw into center field for a two-run single in what proved to be the game-winning hit. Posen led 6-5 with the Hurons having one more at-bat to keep the season alive. Now trailing by a run in the bottom half of the seventh, the Hurons threatened but could not score. Ryan Darga walked and Josh Curtis entered to pinch-run. A wild pitch got him to second and he advanced to third with two outs, after a mishandled ball on the third strike to Kevin Fairbanks. But Curtis was stranded at third, bringing down the curtain on the Hurons? season. ?It was a well-played game on both sides,? said coach Madsen after the loss. ?I?m kind of disappointed for my seniors because they can?t play another game. But the problems we had earlier in the year resurfaced for us today. We had a couple of routine plays that we didn?t make and when you get in the tournament, those little mistakes can be magnified.?

ROGERS CITY GOT on the scoreboard in the first inning. Bret Karsten was hit by a pitch and then stole second base. He scored on Jordan Zempel?s double, but Zempel was tagged out a third trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Rhode singled and Scott Grulke walked, but both were left on base. In the Huron second, Karsten?s double scored Pat Quaine, who reached on a fielder?s choice. Posen scored two in the second and one in the top of the third to lead 3-2. Darga?s single drove in Grulke, who had doubled in the third

inning. Darga scored on Matt Peacock?s double to tie the game at 3-3. Rhode set down the side in order in the Posen fourth, and then the Hurons rallied to take the lead.

Karsten singled and stole second base. Scott Kowalewsky reached base after being hit by a pitch. Then with two out, Rhode slammed a triple to left-center, driving in Karsten and Dustin Hein, who pinch-ran for Kowalewsky. Rhode finished the day with three hits. Rogers City had runners at second and third with two out in the sixth, but Posen got out of it after Grulke lined out to third. Posen advanced to the district finals, but lost to Hillman.

?I am real happy with the progress the kids made this year. We were playing really good baseball at the end of this season against some quality teams. I am proud of where they came from,? Madsen said. Rogers City had 11 hits while Posen tallied four.

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