Sports : Vikings sweep 3rd-ranked West Delaware at home; Vikettes win two at Beckman

The West Delaware baseball team brought its 15-2 record to Vinton on Thursday to play the Vikings.

The Hawks left town with twice as many losses, after the Vikings swept them, 5-3 and 6-5.

The Vikings came from behind both games. Sophomore Scottie Wirth won game 1 for the Vikings, giving up 3 runs on 11 hits as he pitched all seven innings. In game two, junior Austin Bohnsack came on in relief to get the win.

Nathan Struve and Tyler Rippel led the Viking offense in the first game. Struve had two hits and scored two runs. Rippel hit a double and single and drove in three runs and scored another. Each also stole a base.

In the second game, a five-run third inning erased a 4-1 deficit. Bohnsack, the winning pitcher, also had 2 RBI. Rippel scored twice. The Vikes scored six runs on just six hits, all singles.

The Hawks had two runners on in the seventh inning of each game, but Viking outfielders ended each game with solid defense, cathing fly balls for the final out.

"These were great team wins," says Coach Jim Struve. "I'm really proud of how our guys competed and made some big defensive plays at critical times against the # 3 team in Class 3A. " Coach Struve shared these two brief summaries:
Game 1 - Scottie Wirth pitched a complete game win and Austin Bohnsack made a game saving diving overhead catch in right field to preserve the victory. Nathan Struve and Tyler Rippel had 2 hits a piece with Rippel adding a double and 3 RBI's.

Game 2 - Austin Bohnsack came in relief to earn the win with Tanner Davis gaining the save. A big 5-run 3rd inning propelled us to a come-from-behind victory. Wes Edwards made three dramatic catches with the last out being a game-saving overhead catch near the left field fence to preserve the victory.

See the Viking stat page HERE.

Vikettes win at Beckman; win streak at 7

The V-S girls traveled to Dyersville on Thursday, where they defeated Beckman, 4-3 and 11-1. The Vikettes are now 10-11 on the season.

The wins make seven in a row for the Vikettes, who won both games in their home tournament over the weekend and also swept South Tama on Monday, winning 10-0 in each game.

See their stat page HERE.