Vikings Unsuccessfully Defend Cardinal District Championship Title

With the count full and a runner on second base, Woodbridge catcher Talon Young crushed a line drive single into right field that sent Alex Cox across home plate to begin a six-hit, four-run fourth inning that would tie the game at five.

After Tyler Thomas was intentionally walked to load the bases, Justin Petock hit a chopper to short that scored the tying run, before Alex Cox popped out to right field and ended the inning.

That turned out to be the Vikings best inning after losing 17-7 in seven innings, and unsuccessfully defending their Cardinal District championship title against Forest Park.

Vikings pitcher Kyle Fajardin walked three of the first four batters of the game which helped the Bruins get off to a quick 3-0 start. In the second inning he was pulled after walking batter number four, but the Vikings pitching troubles didn't end there. Woodbridge coach Jason Ritenour made three more pitching changes; two of them happening in the final inning in which the Bruins scored seven runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits and one error.

"I think we were really depleted on the mound and they made us pay for any mistakes that we made," said Coach Ritenour. "We gave a lot of free passes [walks] which they didn't really have to do anything."

Regular starting pitcher Tyler Thomas didn't take the mound until the sixth inning, and showed signs of fatigue, walking two batters and allowing two runs in his two-thirds inning effort.

"Coming into this game I think [I've pitched] 15 innings in the last seven days," said Thomas. "But, I told him [Ritenour] before the game that if he needed me I would put it all out on the line for him and give him what I got."

Through five innings the Vikings gave up eight runs on ten hits and three errors, and offensively they failed to bring runners home, stranding nine runners during the same period. The Bruins did a good job of keeping Woodbridge guessing with the off-speed pitch and worked the fastball outside the plate late in the count.

"We had just played 11 innings on Tuesday and I think we were just kinda drained physically and emotionally," added Thomas.

Thomas, who had eight home runs and 38 RBI during the regular season, is one of 13 players returning for the Vikings next year, which coach Ritenour is excited about.

"Some of these guys will have three or four years of varsity experience going into next year," added Ritenour. "There's upside there."

Graduating next year are seniors Alex Cox and Kevin Tatum. Tatum will attend Cornell University and plans to play second base for the Ivy League club while majoring in computer information technology.

Tatum hit three-for-four with a walk, a double and an RBI. Cox was three-for-four with a double and an RBI. Thomas hit one-for-three with two intentional walks.