DICKINSON, ND (NewsDakota.com, photo courtesy of VCSUVikings.com) There are some plays you simply cannot draw up, and they are plays that make tournament runs happen.
With the Vikings leading 2-1 over Mayville State in the bottom of the eighth Saturday, Comet designated hitter Riley Rankin drew a walk, and Comet infielder Tanner Boyle entered the game with nobody out, intending to bunt Rankin into scoring position.
Boyle’s bunt would be fielded by Viking third basement Cody Wielgosh, who threw Boyle out at first. Rankin, seeing third base unoccupied after the rotation on bunt coverage, attempted to make third.
Viking first baseman Kaden Rozdeba perfectly led shortstop Jaden Babiuk on a throw on the run toward third, with Babiuk diving back to the bag, tagging Rankin out to erase the threat.
The play brought the Viking crowd to their feet, and, when NSAA Freshman of the Year Takao Cookson recorded a 3.2 inning save in the ninth, after a four inning save Friday, the Vikings celebrated a 2-1 in, their third straight one-run win over Mayville State, this time in the NSAA quarterfinals in Dickinson.
The double play was the second in three innings. In the sixth, the Comets loaded the bases with one out, and Ricky Marquez scorched a one-hopper to Wielgosh, who was drawn in a third. Wielgosh threw home for an out, and catcher Jamel Chabot made a brilliant relay throw to first, completing a rare 5-2-3 double to end the Comet sixth.
After the doubleplay in the seventh, Wielgosh would end the inning with a diving stab in the hole near short, throwing off balance on a hop to first, with Rozdeba digging up the throw for an out.
The defensive highlights made another tight result tip the Vikings direction, and also backed up another superb pitching performance from Cookson and starter Chris Dietrich. Dietrich threw 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, scattering six hits while striking out 10, walking just one.
Cookson allowed a solo homerun to Chris Shopbell in the eighth, cutting the lead to one, and, for the second straight day, had to strand the tying run on in the ninth, this time at third base after Comet Anthony Villauneva reached on an error with two outs, and a single by Marcus Hughes, Hughes’ third hit of the game, pushed him to third.
It was only fitting the game would end on a pop-out to Wielgosh in foul territory, ending the final stand of the Comet offense on the day.
Along with the Vikings executing some brilliant defensive stops, two bounces that went their way played a huge role in the win.
The first game in the top of the first. After leadoff hitter Tory Nelson doubled to start the game, and moved to third on a Babiuk sacrifice fly, Comet starter Derek Palmiere put a pitch in the turf that darted five-hole on catcher Teigen Parenteau, allowing Nelson to dash home for a 1-0 edge.
In the bottom of the first, Hughes advanced to third after a leadoff single, a swipe of second, and a sac fly that edged him to third with two outs.
With Rankin at the plate for the Comets, Dietrich slipped off the mound and fell to the turf, with the ball coming out of his hands. Had the ball not crossed a baseline, the play is a balk, and Hughes scores.
If the ball stayed in his hand, the play would have also been a balk. Had the ball simply kept rolling Hughes scores on a wild pitch, as he had a solid break from the bag.
The ball hopped toward the plate, and bounced up to hit Rankin, which resulted in a hit batsman. Rankin was awarded first base, but the hit batsman call resulted in a dead ball, forcing Hughes to remain at third.
Michael Feralio would strike out in the next at bat, leaving the Comets without a run.
Chabot added the games winning run to his impressive double play turn, sending a pitch over the left field fence for a solo homerun in the seventh. He finished 2-3 at the plate. Rozdeba was 2-3 as well.
Hughes finished the game 3-5 for the Comets to pace Mayville State.
The Vikings will play a winners bracket game Sunday afternoon at 2:30 PM Mountain, 3:30 PM Central.