Herald-Press

 

BY SEAN GIGGY

 

After watching seventh-ranked Homestead get pushed to the limit by Marion, the Huntington North baseball team was intent on making quick work of Fort Wayne South Side in Saturday’s second sectional semifinal game at Homestead.

Instead, the Archers struck first and starter William Coursen-Carr baffled the Viking offense to keep South Side in front through three innings. The Viking bats finally came alive over the final three innings with six runs on six hits to come back for an 8-3 win. The win gives the Vikes a spot in Monday’s sectional championship against Homestead.

“We knew the lefty they were going to throw out there was going to be solid,” Degitz said. “The first few innings he kept us off stride and fortunately, we were able to put a few runs together and push into the lead. You survive and advance and hopefully we shook the rust off from a week layoff. We’ll have to play better than that Monday.”

South Side entered the game having lost seven straight sectional openers by 10 runs or more, but came out firing on Saturday.

The Archers put five runners on base through the first two innings, but good defensive plays from the Vikings kept the game scoreless heading into the third.

In the top of the inning, South Side finally got to Huntington North starter Wes Carroll, getting three hits, including a two RBI double by Nicholas Batuello, to build a 3-0 lead.

Carroll lasted just 2 2/3 and allowed all three South Side runs.

“For whatever reason today, [Wes] didn’t have it,” Degitz said. “I’m not going to criticize because he’s been good for us all year. But, we’ll have to be better pitching-wise on Monday to be able to compete.”

Coursen-Carr, just a freshman, was impressive in his sectional debut.

Carr held the Vikes to two runs and three hits through the first three innings before wearing down over the next two innings. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in five innings of work.

“He was lights out those first three innings,” said South Side head coach Matt Harmon. “He had a lot of adrenaline going, which I think ended up costing him. He spent himself because he was throwing really hard. He’s going to be a great player for us.”

After relieving Carroll on the mound, Kameron Smith helped his cause with a deep two-run home run to left field that put the Vikings in front 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth.

Smith’s bomb finally got the Viking offense rolling. In the bottom of the fifth, the Vikes came alive for three runs on four hits to extend the lead to 7-4. In the inning, Billy Ray had a two RBI double to and Trevor West added an RBI single.

“[Kameron] is a tough kid,” Degitz said. “He wasn’t looking for a hole to crawl in and hide and hope someone else did the job. He did the job for us. He gave us some great relief pitching and hit the big home run.”

A sixth inning single from Brett Wiley scored TJ Bolding for the final Viking run of the game.

Smith, Ray and Shaun Marion combined to hold the Archers to three hits over the final four innings of work.

“I was really proud of our guys,” Harmon said. “Even when it got tough at the end, we kept right there. It would have been real easy to pack it in and we stayed right there. I was really proud of our effort today.”

Taylor Harris led the Vikes with three hits. Wiley and Bolding each finished with two hits.

In Saturday’s first semifinal game, Homestead trailed Marion for much of the game before a two-out RBI single from Chuck Weaver gave the Spartans a

5-4 win.

The Giants jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first before Homestead tied it up on a Weaver triple in the bottom of the second.

Marion hopped right back in front when Joe Ellet scored following a leadoff triple, making it 3-2. Homestead opened its half of the inning with a triple and tied it up on a sacrifice fly. A home run from Patrick Veerkamp gave the Spartans a 4-3 lead.

Down to their final out, the Giants came charging back. Josh Brodt hit a two-out solo home run to tie it at 4-4 before Weaver’s single won the game in the bottom of the seventh.

The Spartans and Vikings will meet at 5 p.m. Monday for the sectional championship. Huntington North beat Homestead 11-2 back on April 23.

“It’ll be a good game,” Degitz said. “It always has been since I’ve been here. Hopefully we can execute and swing the bats aggressively and come out on top, but they’re a solid team. They’re not ranked in the top 10 for nothing, so we’ll have to come out and play well.”

The winner of the Homestead sectional will face the winner of the Lafayette Jeff sectional at Pendleton Heights on Saturday.