Sports : Vikings advance to Sub-State with 1-0 win over Benton

Vike pitcher Ty Rippel and 3B Scott Wirth collide as they pursue a pop-up. Rippel caught the ball.

Ty Rippel has pitched 9 2/3 scoreless inning to lead the Vikes to two post-season wins.

This pitch ended the game as Aaron Henderson caught the final strike.

Coach Jim Struve looks over his defense as the sun sets on the final inning.

The Vike infielders gather before the final inning.

Catcher Aaron Henderson signals the pitch selection to Ty Rippel.

Ty Rippel pitched a complete came shut-out vs. Benton and center fielder Wes Edwards overcame a day of nausea to double and score the winning run in the first inning as Vinton-Shellsburg won in the second round of District baseball action.

Edwards' run was all the Vikes would get, and all they would need, as Rippel kept the Bobcats from scoring. Benton threatened late in the game, getting the tying run to second in both the sixth and seventh innings. But Rippel caught a pop-up and struck out the final batter to secure the victory.

It was the third time the Vikes have defeated the Bobcats by one run on their field this season.

The Vikes travel to Williamsburg Wednesday evening to play the Raiders, with the winner advancing to State.

The Vikes hope for a repeat of last year's district game, when they avenged two 10-run losses by eliminating the Raiders.