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Vikings split with Anderson on diamond

Photo by Steve Clark.

The Huntington North High School varsity baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Anderson, dropping the first game, 1-0, before winning the second, 4-2, on Saturday, May 21, at Forest Glen Park.

After getting shut out in the opener, the Vikings wasted no time putting runs on the board in the nightcap. Coach Brian Abbott’s squad, 17-7, scored once in the first inning and twice in the second. The Indians, 15-12, tightened things with a pair of runs in the top of the third, but Huntington North gave itself some breathing room with a tally in the bottom half of the frame that proved to be the game’s final score.

Even though they came away with the win, the Vikings totaled only three hits in the contest. Senior Thomas Parker and juniors Hunter Welch and Carson Wright produced those base pokes, with a double by Wright kicking off the first inning. Wright advanced to third on a groundout by senior Logan Green, then dashed home for the game’s first run on a wild pitch by Braden Odom.

In the second frame, two more wild pitches by Odom permitted senior Alex McCutcheon to advance all the way to third after drawing a walk to open the inning. A sacrifice fly by senior Sam Daugherty plated McCutcheon and moved senior Sam Baumgartner, who reached base on a walk, to third. A batter later, Baumgartner scored on a bobble by Odom.

Following the Indians’ two runs in the top of the third, the Vikings scored their insurance tally when Parker, who got on base with a two-bagger, raced home on another off-target pitch by Odom.

The first five innings saw Cody Barton handle pitching duties for Huntington North. The junior yielded eight hits and Anderson’s pair of scores while walking one and striking out two to earn the win, his first against one loss. Senior Evan Huntley tossed the last two frames for the Vikings, permitting only one hit with a strikeout and no walks to record the save.

Odom took the loss for Anderson, allowing the three Huntington North hits and four runs in six innings. He tallied five strikeouts and as many walks.

The first game saw the Indians rack up 11 hits to the Vikings’ four and score what would prove to be the tilt’s only run in the fourth inning.

Anthony Capozza took the loss for Huntington North, allowing the 11 Anderson base pokes and the run, which was unearned, in seven frames. The senior, 5-1, issued no walks and fanned four.

Capozza’s Anderson counterpart, Brandon Johnson, also went the distance on the mound, yielding the four Viking hits and no runs while walking two and striking out four to earn the win.

Wright, Welch, Alex McCutcheon and senior Kory Goodrich produced the Huntington North hits.