The Sea Kings Junior Varsity lost a 5-3 decision to the Marina Vikings on Wednesday. The Sea Kings battled back to within a run twice during the game, but could never get over the hump. Starter Brooks Johnson (‘27) certainly pitched well enough to win, but a variety of defensive miscues resulted in three unearned Vikings’ runs.
In the bottom of the first inning, a leadoff walk led to a 1-0 Marina lead, as the Vikings baserunner advanced around the bases via a stolen base, a ground out and a passed ball.
In the second inning, Marina, again, scored on a passed ball, after an error put the Vikings’ leadoff hitter on base. The unearned run put the Vikings up 2-0.
The Sea Kings scored an unearned run of their own in the top of the third inning when the Vikings’ right fielder misplayed a ball off the bat of Maxwell Morton (‘27), who was batting after Cason Yarnall (‘27) and Max Brengel (‘27) had back-to-back singles.
Entering the bottom of the fifth inning, it was still anyone’s ball game with the Vikings nursing a 2-1 lead. The Vikings put some distance between themselves and the Sea Kings by scoring two runs on a walk, a double and a single.
The Sea Kings once again closed the gap to one run when they scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Crosby Eddy (‘27) led off the inning by drawing a walk and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Brady Zenz (‘26) then singled to put runners on the corners. After Zenz stole second base, Jacob Olson’s (‘27) ground out to the Vikings’ first baseman allowed Eddy to score and Zenz to advance to third base. Alex Wellmerling (‘27) singled to right field to score Zenz and the score was 4-3.
The Vikings stretched their lead back out to two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when they scored another unearned run.
The Sea Kings went quietly in the seventh inning and the Vikings had nailed down a 5-3 victory.
Johnson pitched a complete game for the Sea Kings, allowing two earned runs on five hits, while striking out two.
Morton reached base twice with a single and a walk.
Wellmerling had an RBI and, like Morton, also reached base twice, with a single and a hit by pitch.
Zenz led the Sea Kings offense with his two for two day, plus a hit by pitch. He stole a base and scored a run.
Brengel’s third inning single extended his hitting streak to four games.
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity will host the Marina Vikings for the finale of their season series on Friday, April 18.