The Sea Kings Freshmen defeated the Marina Vikings 12-2 in the first game of their three-game set this week. The Sea Kings pounded out twelve hits and drew eight walks, while the Sea Kings pitchers held the Vikings to one earned run.
The Vikings opened the game with a single, and one out later, they scored a run thanks to a defensive miscue by the Sea Kings. This would turn out to be the high point of the game for Marina.
Both teams were held scoreless until it was the Sea Kings’ turn to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Luke Kittleson (‘28) started the frame with a leadoff double. Kittleson’s double should have been the extent of the potential trouble for Marina, as the next three Sea Kings’ batters hit balls that should have been fielded for outs. However, the Vikings made an error and the door was left open for a two-out Sea Kings’ rally. The Sea Kings strode through that open door. Kittleson stole home to plate the Sea Kings first run and then William Gould (‘27) singled to drive in Jackson Lawrence (‘28), who had been the beneficiary of the Vikings’ error. The second walk of the inning loaded the bases for the Sea Kings and Luca DiNapoli lined a single to center field to drive in the Sea Kings’ third run.
The Vikings posted a run in the top of the fifth inning to pull back within a run when two walks were followed by an RBI double.
The Sea Kings stretched their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The inning started with a walk to Kittleson, who then advanced to third base on a pair of passed balls. Kittleson scored on an RBI-single by Lawrence. The next two Sea Kings made outs, but the Sea Kings again rallied with two outs. Colt Fyke (’28) singled and Gould walked, prior to a single by Brody Majit (‘28) that drove in two runs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sea Kings doubled their run total, as they sent eleven batters to the plate and scored six runs. A leadoff double by DiNapoli was followed by a Tait Weissman (’28) single and a walk to Kittleson to load the bases. Nick DeSousa (‘27) then hit a ball up the middle that plated DiNapoli and left the bases loaded. A four-pitch walk to Claire O’Kelly (’28) resulted in the next Sea Kings run when Weissman was forced home. Fyke then singled to drive in Kittleson and the Sea Kings still had the bases loaded. Gould was hit by a pitch and DeSousa scored as a result. Majit’s single brought O’Kelly home and DiNapoli singled to plate Fyke before the inning mercifully ended.
The Sea Kings got outstanding contributions up and down the lineup on Tuesday.
All three Sea Kings hurlers were excellent. Gould started on the bump and ended up pitching four and two-thirds innings and surrendering only two hits and one earned run, while striking out five. Kittleson may have only recorded one out, but it was a critical one. Kittleson relieved Gould in the top of the fifth with two outs and runners on second and third bases, in what was a one-run game at the time. He battled his way to a 3-2 count and ultimately struck out the Vikings’ batter to extinguish the threat. Fyke pitched the final two innings and did not allow a hit or a run, while striking out four Vikings and walking none.
All three Sea Kings pitchers also helped the cause as hitters. Gould reached base three times with a single, a walk and a hit by pitch, and drove in two runs. Kittleson, who extended his on-base streak to six games, was one for one with three walks, three runs and a stolen base. Fyke was two for three plus a walk and scored three runs, while driving one in.
The top two hitters in the Sea Kings’ lineup arguably did the most damage. Leadoff man Majit, who has a four-game hitting streak, was two for three with two walks, three RBI and a stolen base. Number two hitter DiNapoli was three for five with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
The Sea Kings Freshmen travel to Marina to face off against the Vikings again on Wednesday, April 16.