The Marina Vikings were able to salvage the final game of their three-game set with the Sea Kings Freshmen, coming away with a 3-1 victory.
The Vikings established an early lead and held the Sea Kings offense in check throughout the game.
Sensing the pitcher’s duel at hand, the Vikings resorted to small ball to plate their first run in the top of the second inning. A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put a Viking at second base with one out. A single then put Marina baserunners at the corners. A second sacrifice bunt of the inning brought home the Vikings first run of the game.
The Sea Kings threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. A pair of strikeouts and a ground ball back to the pitcher choked off the Sea Kings’ rally with no damage done.
The Vikings extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning. A pair of walks put Vikings on the base paths and both men came around to score on a critical defensive miscue by the Sea Kings with two outs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Sea Kings tried to mount a two-out rally when Tait Weissman (‘28) walked and then stole second and third bases. Weissman scored on Luke Kittleson’s (‘28) single to center field, but the Vikings then secured the third out to close out the game with a 3-1 victory.
The Sea Kings hurlers matched the Vikings pitch for pitch on the day with the Vikings’ clean fielding being the difference in the game. Starter Colt Fyke (‘28) went five innings for the Sea Kings and allowed one earned run on three hits. Brody Majit (‘28) relieved Fyke and pitched the final two innings during which he surrendered two hits and no runs, while striking out three Vikings.
Kittleson remained red hot for the Sea Kings, extending streaks that have seen him gather a hit in five straight games, as part of an eight game on-base streak. Against Marina, Kittleson was one for three plus a walk and drove in the Sea Kings only run.
The man Kittleson drove in was Weissman, who is on his own five game on-base streak. The Vikings issued Weissman two walks and he took advantage, stealing two bases and scoring a run.
Nick DeSousa (‘27) also reached base twice with a single and a hit by pitch.
Jackson Lawrence (‘28) led the Sea Kings with two hits and extended his on-base streak to five games.
The Sea Kings Freshmen and the Edison Chargers face off three times next week beginning Tuesday, April 22.