Vikings Advance To Sectional Final
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Though they were hosting Class 3A Sectional 21, the Vikings were the visiting team on the scoreboard and wasted no time in making themselves feel at home, scoring four runs with the first four batters of the game en route to a 7-0 win.[[In-content Ad]]"That's what we've been preaching all year, patience (at the plate)," said Valley coach Scott Backus. "When we've got guys with patience, we hit the ball well. We've got talent, and when the pitcher puts the ball in the right place we're gonna hit it hard."
The Vikings certainly hit the ball hard in the first inning against Columbia City sophomore Logan Rehrer.
After Valley senior Graham Groninger led off the game with a single, teammate Keith Koser ripped an RBI double off the center field fence. He later scored on a passed ball.
Viking freshman Brody Andrews then ripped a double of his own, followed by a two-run homer from sophomore clean-up hitter Dan Kitch.
Giving up four hits and four runs to the first four batters, Rehrer took the loss without even recording an out.
He was replaced on the mound by junior Braden Emerick, who worked six innings, giving up four hits, four walks and three runs while striking out 11.
While Columbia City's starting pitcher struggled, Valley's starter, freshman James Hackworth, had things well in his control.
The talented southpaw pitched seven scoreless innings, scattering just four hits while walking none and striking out 12.
Along the way he broke Allen Utter's 30-year-old school record for strikeouts in a season. Utter struck out 114 batters in one season, while Hackworth upped his total to 117 last night.
"He's a very heady kid," Backus said of Hackworth. "When he's throwing strikes and we're getting hits, we're in good shape. He's got just enough velocity and he hits his spots."
Valley added two more runs in the fourth inning when Koser hit a two-run homer and put another run on the board in the sixth.
With the victory, the Vikings improved to 16-10 on the season and advanced to tonight's 6 p.m. sectional final against Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko.
The Wildcats, who fell 10-0 to Valley earlier in the season when they were no-hit by Hackworth, advanced to the title tilt by beating NorthWood 5-4 in eight innings in Monday's second semifinal game.
Whitko enter's tonight's game with a 12-17 record, while NorthWood finished its season with a 12-14 mark.
Whitko built a 4-0 lead over the Panthers by scoring two runs in the first and two more in the third, but NorthWood rallied by scoring a run in the third, another in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
The Wildcats won the game in the eighth inning on Ryan Busz's RBI single.
Nathan Sherrard had three hits for Whitko, while Cole Mishler had two.
James Stoddard, Kurt Boggs, Tyler Linn, Trevor Sleighter and Busz each had a hit in the win.
"James Stoddard had a huge hit to drive in a run and pick us up in the first," said Whitko coach Erik Hisner. "Kurt Boggs, who hit the ball hard three times tonight, came through with a clutch double to put us up 4-0 in the third inning. And Ryan Busz had the biggest hit of the night in the eighth. To fight off a tough two-strike pitch and drive in Cole, who got a great read off the bat, was incredible."
Cole Mishler started the game on the mound for Whitko, working six inning, giving up seven hits, four runs, three walks and striking out three.
Kurt Boggs pitched the final two innnings for Whitko and was credited with the win. He walked two and struck out two.
"Cole Mishler threw the ball extremely well," said Hisner. "He had great command, worked out of some big spots and kept NorthWood off-balance by all night by mixing speeds. Cole wanted the ball and went out and competed. He was able to will himself out of some big jams. And give a lot of credit Nick Cox. He caught and called an outstanding game."
In tonight's 6 p.m. sectional final, the Wildcats will be trying to win the program's first sectional title, while the Vikings are trying to win the program's third sectional title and first since 1990.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7, COLUMBIA CITY 0
TV 400 201 0 - 7 8 0
CC 000 000 0 - 0 4 1
James Hackworth (W) 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K and Brody Andrews; Logan Rehrer (L) 0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 0 K, Braden Emerick (1), 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 11 K, Bryce Shively (7) 1 IP and Trent Dunn.
2B - Keith Koser (TV), Brody Andrews (TV). 3B - Jamie Parrett (CC). HR - Dan Kitch (TV), Koser (TV).
Records: T. Valley 16-10, Columbia City 8-21
WHITKO 5, NORTHWOOD 4 (8 innings)
W 202 000 01 - 5 9 5
N 001 102 00 - 4 7 2
Cole Mishler 6 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K, Kurt Boggs (W, 7) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K and Nick Cox; Brock Bemiller (L) 8 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 4 BB and John Sittler.
2B - Jordan Warren (N), Bemiller (N), Tony Miranda (N), Nathan Sherrar (W). 3B - James Stoddard (W).
Records: Whitko 12-17, NorthWood 12-14.
Latest News
E-Editions
Though they were hosting Class 3A Sectional 21, the Vikings were the visiting team on the scoreboard and wasted no time in making themselves feel at home, scoring four runs with the first four batters of the game en route to a 7-0 win.[[In-content Ad]]"That's what we've been preaching all year, patience (at the plate)," said Valley coach Scott Backus. "When we've got guys with patience, we hit the ball well. We've got talent, and when the pitcher puts the ball in the right place we're gonna hit it hard."
The Vikings certainly hit the ball hard in the first inning against Columbia City sophomore Logan Rehrer.
After Valley senior Graham Groninger led off the game with a single, teammate Keith Koser ripped an RBI double off the center field fence. He later scored on a passed ball.
Viking freshman Brody Andrews then ripped a double of his own, followed by a two-run homer from sophomore clean-up hitter Dan Kitch.
Giving up four hits and four runs to the first four batters, Rehrer took the loss without even recording an out.
He was replaced on the mound by junior Braden Emerick, who worked six innings, giving up four hits, four walks and three runs while striking out 11.
While Columbia City's starting pitcher struggled, Valley's starter, freshman James Hackworth, had things well in his control.
The talented southpaw pitched seven scoreless innings, scattering just four hits while walking none and striking out 12.
Along the way he broke Allen Utter's 30-year-old school record for strikeouts in a season. Utter struck out 114 batters in one season, while Hackworth upped his total to 117 last night.
"He's a very heady kid," Backus said of Hackworth. "When he's throwing strikes and we're getting hits, we're in good shape. He's got just enough velocity and he hits his spots."
Valley added two more runs in the fourth inning when Koser hit a two-run homer and put another run on the board in the sixth.
With the victory, the Vikings improved to 16-10 on the season and advanced to tonight's 6 p.m. sectional final against Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko.
The Wildcats, who fell 10-0 to Valley earlier in the season when they were no-hit by Hackworth, advanced to the title tilt by beating NorthWood 5-4 in eight innings in Monday's second semifinal game.
Whitko enter's tonight's game with a 12-17 record, while NorthWood finished its season with a 12-14 mark.
Whitko built a 4-0 lead over the Panthers by scoring two runs in the first and two more in the third, but NorthWood rallied by scoring a run in the third, another in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
The Wildcats won the game in the eighth inning on Ryan Busz's RBI single.
Nathan Sherrard had three hits for Whitko, while Cole Mishler had two.
James Stoddard, Kurt Boggs, Tyler Linn, Trevor Sleighter and Busz each had a hit in the win.
"James Stoddard had a huge hit to drive in a run and pick us up in the first," said Whitko coach Erik Hisner. "Kurt Boggs, who hit the ball hard three times tonight, came through with a clutch double to put us up 4-0 in the third inning. And Ryan Busz had the biggest hit of the night in the eighth. To fight off a tough two-strike pitch and drive in Cole, who got a great read off the bat, was incredible."
Cole Mishler started the game on the mound for Whitko, working six inning, giving up seven hits, four runs, three walks and striking out three.
Kurt Boggs pitched the final two innnings for Whitko and was credited with the win. He walked two and struck out two.
"Cole Mishler threw the ball extremely well," said Hisner. "He had great command, worked out of some big spots and kept NorthWood off-balance by all night by mixing speeds. Cole wanted the ball and went out and competed. He was able to will himself out of some big jams. And give a lot of credit Nick Cox. He caught and called an outstanding game."
In tonight's 6 p.m. sectional final, the Wildcats will be trying to win the program's first sectional title, while the Vikings are trying to win the program's third sectional title and first since 1990.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7, COLUMBIA CITY 0
TV 400 201 0 - 7 8 0
CC 000 000 0 - 0 4 1
James Hackworth (W) 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K and Brody Andrews; Logan Rehrer (L) 0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 0 K, Braden Emerick (1), 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 11 K, Bryce Shively (7) 1 IP and Trent Dunn.
2B - Keith Koser (TV), Brody Andrews (TV). 3B - Jamie Parrett (CC). HR - Dan Kitch (TV), Koser (TV).
Records: T. Valley 16-10, Columbia City 8-21
WHITKO 5, NORTHWOOD 4 (8 innings)
W 202 000 01 - 5 9 5
N 001 102 00 - 4 7 2
Cole Mishler 6 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K, Kurt Boggs (W, 7) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K and Nick Cox; Brock Bemiller (L) 8 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 4 BB and John Sittler.
2B - Jordan Warren (N), Bemiller (N), Tony Miranda (N), Nathan Sherrar (W). 3B - James Stoddard (W).
Records: Whitko 12-17, NorthWood 12-14.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092