Vikings baseball team loses to Beekman Charter
Published 12:10 am Tuesday, April 17, 2018
BASTROP, La. — The Vidalia High School Vikings thought they could just show up at Beekman Charter School and easily defeat the Tigers Monday afternoon and win the LHSAA District 2-2A championship.
Well, Beekman Charter decided that if Vidalia is going to claim the district crown, it will (1) have to earn it and (2) wait until later in the week on its home field to do so.
The Tigers used a pair of early three-run innings and got some solid pitching from B. Spigner and R. Chain to defeat Vidalia 11-5 to give the Vikings their first loss in district play this season.
“We just didn’t show up today. Beekman Charter is a well-coached team. They wanted to win and we didn’t,” Vikings head coach Mike Norris said. “We thought we would just show up with an 8-0 (district) record. We didn’t come in like the that we are. It was a gut check.”
Not only did Spigner pitch well in his four-plus innings, giving up two unearned runs on two hits with six strikeouts, he also went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.
“He threw well. He hit his spots. He had us guessing,” Norris said.
The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and again in the bottom of the third to grab a 6-0 lead. Vidalia tried to rally, but could only manage single runs in the top of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to make it a 6-3 game.
Beekman Charter put the game out of reach with a five-run barrage in the bottom of the sixth for an 11-3 advantage. Vidalia scored two runs in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough. The Tigers had nine hits and took advantage of four Vikings errors.
“Most of them were throwing errors. We made mistakes early and couldn’t get back on track,” Norris said. “They hit the ball well and we threw it around a little bit. Sometimes we forget when we get behind how to win ball games. We have to get better at that.”
Chain, who went three innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits in three innings, went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Nick Melton led Vidalia at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Cameron Rodgers had a double.
Vidalia (17-10, 8-1) plays host to Beekman Charter for a varsity doubleheader Thursday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Delta Charter 12, FCCS 2 (5 innings)
FERRIDAY — Freddie Mango and Drake Smith combined for five hits and eight runs batted in as the Delta Charter School Storm took care of the Family Community Christian School Warriors 12-2 in five innings Monday afternoon.
Mango went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and four runs scored. Smith was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored to lead Delta Charter’s nine-hit attack.
The Storm scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning to grab an early 6-0 lead and increased its lead to 9-0 after four innings of play before FCCS scored two runs off starting and winning pitcher Landon Davis in the top of the fifth inning.
Delta Charter ended the game early with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Trey Poole had a double and Chandler Wiley was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Davis went all five innings and overcame seven walks by allowing just five hits and striking out two.
Delta Charter (9-12) returns to LHSAA District 2-1A action on Thursday when it travels to Ruston, La. to take on Cedar Creek School.