Post Photo by Rickey Clardy Thomas Bowling delivers a pitch for the Vikings in the opening inning.
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and got out of a base-loaded jam in the sixth to preserve the lead as the Vikings opened the 2024 baseball season with a 6-5 win over the DeKalb County Tigers in a baseball contest Monday night.
The Tigers used two hits to push across the first run of the game in the opening inning, but the Vikings bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the second.
Singles by Jaxson Roberts and Case Davis to lead off the inning followed by a walk to Luke Davis loaded the bases with no outs.
Tyler Woods drove in the tying run after reaching base on an error and Elijah Westbrooks was credited with an RBI on a groundout as the Vikings took a 2-1 lead.
After DeKalb County tied the game without the benefit of a hit in the top of the fourth inning, the Vikings used five hits to push across three runs in the bottom of the frame.
With one out, Woods singled and Maki Fleming reached on an infield single. After Fleming stole second to put both runners in scoring position, Westbrooks delivered a 2-run single to put Community up 4-2.
A single by Drew Harris and an RBI-single by Josh Powers increased the Viking lead to 5-2.
The Tigers used two hits and a Viking error to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth before the Vikings took the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Case Davis led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Luke Davis. An RBI-single by Woods put the Vikings up 6-5.
Kaleb Maillet came on in relief of Isaiah Beech in the top of the sixth for the Vikings as DeKalb County loaded the bases.
But a groundout ended the inning as the Vikings hung on to their lead.
It was lights out in the top of the seventh as Maillet struck out the side to quench any hopes of a Tiger comeback.
Seven Vikings accounted for 11 hits, with Fleming, Harris, Case Davis, and Woods each picking up two safeties.
Thomas Bowling started on the mound for the Vikings with Beech in relief in the fourth inning. Beech picked up the win with Maillet taking the save.
“It was a great start to the season especially with as many young players as we have,” Coach Robbie Davis of the Vikings said. “We only started four guys from last year’s team tonight and the young kids responded well. The seniors have done a great job of teaching and leading these young kids and some of the freshmen play well above their years.”
“All in all, we had decent weather for early March and a huge crowd for opening night,” Davis added.
Community will travel to Franklin County for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday night.
DeKalb Co. 100 130 0 — 5 5 1
Community 020 310 x — 6 11 2
Community: Maki Fleming 2-for-4, Drew Harris 2-for-3, Case Davis 2-for-3, Tyler Woods 2-for-3, Elijah Westbrooks 1-for-3, Josh Powers 1-for-4, Jaxson Roberts 1-for-3.
WP: Beech
SV: Maillet
