Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON – Tippecanoe Valley's varsity baseball team scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning Monday.
The Vikings needed every one of them and then some, as they hung on to beat the visiting Triton Trojans 13-12.
"We let them stick around," said first-year Valley coach Ryan Moore, whose team improved to 2-2 on the season. "The first inning was great. We got off to a great start, but we let them stick around."
After Valley freshman pitcher Drake Hyden held Triton hitless and scoreless in the top of the first, the Vikings' offense went to work.
Sophomore Tanner Andrews led off with a triple, followed by a triple from junior Dan Miller.
Senior James Hackworth reached on an error, and then juniors Jacob Ritchey and Clayton Adamson and freshman Jarred Littlejohn all drew walks.
Following senior Kameron Larimer's three-run triple, Valley led 7-0 with just one out and and appeared to have things under control.
The Trojans, who fell to 2-3 on the year, had other ideas.
Triton scored six runs in the second inning, and later added three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
Take away Valley's big first inning and the Trojans outscored the Vikings 12-6.
The Trojans left 10 runners on base in the loss, including a bases-loaded situation in the seventh.
"I'm really disappointed with the way we swung the bats," said Triton coach Jim Shively. "We scattered some hits, but they were bloopers, we didn't really put the bat on the ball. We had two balls that were hit hard. We didn't have guys ready to swing the bat."
Senior Zak Shively had three of Triton's eight total hits, while junior Seth Glingle added two of his own.
Junior Bryson Mosier hit a double, accounting for the Trojans' only extra-base hit.
The Vikings, who scored once in the third, twice in the fourth and three more times in the sixth, never trailed and the game was never tied after Valley plated its first run.
The Vikings pounded out 10 hits in the win, half of which came from their first two hitters in the lineup – Andrews and Miller.
Andrews finished the game 2 for 4 at the plate with a double, a triple and three runs scored, while Miller was 3 for 4 with a double, two triples, three RBIs and three runs scored.
"Dan Miller has been solid," said Moore. "He's always been a good hitter. It was good to see Tanner Andrews put the bat on the ball like that. He was batting .000 before today."
Junior Mason Teel was 2 for 2 at the plate and also had a double for the Vikings, while Ritchey added a triple.
On a day when strong winds blew from left field to right field, keeping the American flag extended throughout the contest, the teams combined for 21 walks and four errors.
Sophomore Daryl Wright replaced Hyden in the fourth inning and picked up the win on the mound for the Vikings.
In four innings of work, Wright gave up five hits and six runs while striking out seven and walking four.
Hyden gave up three hits and six runs. He walked four Triton batters and struck out five.
For Triton, Keita Morikawa took the loss. The senior worked 2-2/3 innings, giving up five hits and eight runs. He issued six walks and struck out three Valley batters.
Senior Marc Lindsey, who started the game behind the plate, pitched the final 3-1/3 innings. He gave up five hits and five runs, while walking three and striking out three.
Triton is in action again today at Caston, while Valley travels to county rival Warsaw Wednesday.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 13, TRITON 12
Tri 060 003 3 – 12 8 3
TV 701 203 X – 13 10 1
Keita Morikawa (L, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 6 BB, 3 K), Marc Lindsey (3rd, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K) and Lindsey; Drake Hyden (ND, 3 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 8 BB, 5 K), Daryl Wright (W, 4 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 7 K) and Jacob Ritchey
2B – Bryson Mosier (Tri), Tanner Andrews (TV), Mason Teel (TV)
3B – Kameron Larimer (TV), Ritchey (TV), Andrews (TV), Dan Miller (TV, 2)
HBP – Lindsey (Tri, 2), Seth Glingle (Tri)
Records: Triton 2-3, T. Valley 2-2
