Vikings Outlast Wildcats For Sectional Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
After building a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the host Vikings - who were the visiting team on the scoreboard - rallied from a 6-3 deficit and overcame four errors to beat Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko 9-8 in eight innings in the championship game of Class 3A Sectional 21.[[In-content Ad]]"Relief," Valley coach Scott Backus said when asked how it felt to end the program's sectional title drought. "I've been the head coach here 10 years, and it's nice to finally win one. We've been in the sectional championship game before, but we always played the Norwells and the Plymouths. Regardless of what happens (at the regional), these kids have a trophy in the case."
The win improved Valley's season record to 17-10 and advanced the Vikings to Saturday's Bellmont Regional, where they will play the winner of the Yorktown Sectional in a 1 p.m. semifinal game.
Rain stopped play in Tuesday's championship game at Yorktown, with Delta leading the hosts 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. The game is scheduled to resume at 5 p.m. today.
Fifth-ranked Leo and Norwell will play in Saturday's first regional semifinal game at 11 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Valley used a four-run first inning to put Columbia City away in Monday's 7-0 sectional semifinal win.
The Vikings' early 3-0 advantage over Whitko didn't hold up, however, as the Wildcats scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and five more in the second.
A team that was no-hit and lost 10-0 to Valley early in the season, and on paper maybe didn't belong in the sectional championship, Whitko certainly challenged the Vikings.
"We talked about that all week, that on paper maybe we weren't supposed to win," said third-year Whitko coach Erik Hisner. "But that's why you play the game. We knew we had to win three games in four days, but not once did I feel like we couldn't win. The kids did a great job and never gave up."
The Wildcats, who were trying to win the program's first sectional title, finished the season with a 12-18 record after going just 5-24 last year.
"This was a big step for us," Hisner said of having a chance to win a sectional championship. "We've talked about this for three years now, and we were very close tonight. I told the kids to go out and enjoy this. We have a long way to go, but this was a big step. This is a great group of kids."
The Wildcats scored two runs to tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but in the end Valley simply made a few more plays than the Wildcats.
With two outs and the score still tied at 8-8 in the top of the eighth inning, Whitko intentionally walked Valley senior Zach Prater, who had already ripped two doubles, to get to freshman James Hackworth, who was hitless up to that point.
Hackworth, who pitched a gem against Columbia City the night before and threw three solid innings of relief against Whitko, slid into first and beat out an infield single that pulled Whitko first baseman James Stoddard away from the base.
All the while, Valley senior Dan Kitch was able to score from second and record what turned out to be the game-winning run.
"James Hackworth really hustled to beat out that play at first," said Backus. "He stepped up and helped us win the game."
As did Valley senior Keith Koser, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the win on the mound.
Though he's scheduled for elbow surgery next week and hasn't pitched since the first game of the season, Koser retired all six batters he faced, the final four outs coming via strikeouts.
"Koser has been on me for a couple weeks, saying that if I needed someone to close things out in the sectional he could do it," said Backus. "I had one finger crossed that he got it done and another crossed that his elbow held up. He's a gamer, I knew he could get it done as long as his arm held up."
It did, and when Koser fanned Ryan Busz for the final out of the game, Valley's players tossed their gloves in the air like graduation caps. They gave each other high-fives. They posed for team pictures with the trophy.
It was a celebration nearly 20 years in the making.
The last time Valley won a sectional, Backus was in 8th grade.
Prater finished the game 3 for 3 for Valley with four RBI. Brody Andrews, Taylor Burkhart, Kitch and Hackworth each had one hit for the Vikings.
Nathan Sherrard led Whitko at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two RBI. Alex Winger, Trevor Sleighter, Kurt Boggs and Stoddard had one hit each for the Vikings.
VALLEY 9, WHITKO 8 (8 innings)
Valley 300 131 01 - 9 7 4
Whitko 150 002 00 - 8 6 2
Valley pitchers - Graham Groninger (ND, 3 IP, 3 K, 3 BB, 6 R), James Hackworth (ND, 4th, 3 IP, 5 K, 2 R, 1 BB), Keith Koser (W, 7th, 2 IP, 4 K) to Brody Andrews.
Whitko pitchers - James Stoddard (ND, 4 IP, 5 R, 3 BB), Trevor Sleighter (ND, 5th, 1/3 IP, 2 R), Ryan Busz (L, 5th, 3-2/3 IP, 4 BB) to Kurt Boggs and Nick Cox (5th).
Valley hitters - Zach Prater 3 for 3, 2B (2), 4 RBI; Brody Andrews 1 for 4; Dan Kitch 1 for 5; James Hackworth 1 for 4; Taylor Burkhart 1 for 5, 1 RBI
Whitko hitters - Nathan Sherrard 2 for 4, 2 RBI; Alex Winger 1 for 3; Trevor Sleighter 1 for 3, 2 RBI; James Stoddard 1 for 4, 1 RBI; Kurt Boggs 1 for 4
Records: Valley 17-10, Whitko 12-18
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After building a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the host Vikings - who were the visiting team on the scoreboard - rallied from a 6-3 deficit and overcame four errors to beat Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko 9-8 in eight innings in the championship game of Class 3A Sectional 21.[[In-content Ad]]"Relief," Valley coach Scott Backus said when asked how it felt to end the program's sectional title drought. "I've been the head coach here 10 years, and it's nice to finally win one. We've been in the sectional championship game before, but we always played the Norwells and the Plymouths. Regardless of what happens (at the regional), these kids have a trophy in the case."
The win improved Valley's season record to 17-10 and advanced the Vikings to Saturday's Bellmont Regional, where they will play the winner of the Yorktown Sectional in a 1 p.m. semifinal game.
Rain stopped play in Tuesday's championship game at Yorktown, with Delta leading the hosts 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. The game is scheduled to resume at 5 p.m. today.
Fifth-ranked Leo and Norwell will play in Saturday's first regional semifinal game at 11 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Valley used a four-run first inning to put Columbia City away in Monday's 7-0 sectional semifinal win.
The Vikings' early 3-0 advantage over Whitko didn't hold up, however, as the Wildcats scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and five more in the second.
A team that was no-hit and lost 10-0 to Valley early in the season, and on paper maybe didn't belong in the sectional championship, Whitko certainly challenged the Vikings.
"We talked about that all week, that on paper maybe we weren't supposed to win," said third-year Whitko coach Erik Hisner. "But that's why you play the game. We knew we had to win three games in four days, but not once did I feel like we couldn't win. The kids did a great job and never gave up."
The Wildcats, who were trying to win the program's first sectional title, finished the season with a 12-18 record after going just 5-24 last year.
"This was a big step for us," Hisner said of having a chance to win a sectional championship. "We've talked about this for three years now, and we were very close tonight. I told the kids to go out and enjoy this. We have a long way to go, but this was a big step. This is a great group of kids."
The Wildcats scored two runs to tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but in the end Valley simply made a few more plays than the Wildcats.
With two outs and the score still tied at 8-8 in the top of the eighth inning, Whitko intentionally walked Valley senior Zach Prater, who had already ripped two doubles, to get to freshman James Hackworth, who was hitless up to that point.
Hackworth, who pitched a gem against Columbia City the night before and threw three solid innings of relief against Whitko, slid into first and beat out an infield single that pulled Whitko first baseman James Stoddard away from the base.
All the while, Valley senior Dan Kitch was able to score from second and record what turned out to be the game-winning run.
"James Hackworth really hustled to beat out that play at first," said Backus. "He stepped up and helped us win the game."
As did Valley senior Keith Koser, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the win on the mound.
Though he's scheduled for elbow surgery next week and hasn't pitched since the first game of the season, Koser retired all six batters he faced, the final four outs coming via strikeouts.
"Koser has been on me for a couple weeks, saying that if I needed someone to close things out in the sectional he could do it," said Backus. "I had one finger crossed that he got it done and another crossed that his elbow held up. He's a gamer, I knew he could get it done as long as his arm held up."
It did, and when Koser fanned Ryan Busz for the final out of the game, Valley's players tossed their gloves in the air like graduation caps. They gave each other high-fives. They posed for team pictures with the trophy.
It was a celebration nearly 20 years in the making.
The last time Valley won a sectional, Backus was in 8th grade.
Prater finished the game 3 for 3 for Valley with four RBI. Brody Andrews, Taylor Burkhart, Kitch and Hackworth each had one hit for the Vikings.
Nathan Sherrard led Whitko at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two RBI. Alex Winger, Trevor Sleighter, Kurt Boggs and Stoddard had one hit each for the Vikings.
VALLEY 9, WHITKO 8 (8 innings)
Valley 300 131 01 - 9 7 4
Whitko 150 002 00 - 8 6 2
Valley pitchers - Graham Groninger (ND, 3 IP, 3 K, 3 BB, 6 R), James Hackworth (ND, 4th, 3 IP, 5 K, 2 R, 1 BB), Keith Koser (W, 7th, 2 IP, 4 K) to Brody Andrews.
Whitko pitchers - James Stoddard (ND, 4 IP, 5 R, 3 BB), Trevor Sleighter (ND, 5th, 1/3 IP, 2 R), Ryan Busz (L, 5th, 3-2/3 IP, 4 BB) to Kurt Boggs and Nick Cox (5th).
Valley hitters - Zach Prater 3 for 3, 2B (2), 4 RBI; Brody Andrews 1 for 4; Dan Kitch 1 for 5; James Hackworth 1 for 4; Taylor Burkhart 1 for 5, 1 RBI
Whitko hitters - Nathan Sherrard 2 for 4, 2 RBI; Alex Winger 1 for 3; Trevor Sleighter 1 for 3, 2 RBI; James Stoddard 1 for 4, 1 RBI; Kurt Boggs 1 for 4
Records: Valley 17-10, Whitko 12-18
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