Sports : 501 wins: Vikings honor Coach Struve for milestone, then split with Raiders

Coach Jim Struve, pictured with his family, and the sign honoring his 500th win as baseball coach.

Drew Pearson lays down a bunt.

First baseman Luke Moen awaits a throw from 3B Taylor Dinderman for a put-out.

Griffon Williams takes a throw at second from Drew Pearson; the Vikings split with Williamsburg.

Griffon Willams attempts to throw to first to complete a double play.

Grant Sagan pitched all eight innings for the Vikings in their game vs. Williamsburg.

The Vinton-Shellsburg baseball fans honored coach Jim Struve (who also played high school b baseball as a Viking) for his 500th win as a coach on Monday evening.

Coach Struve reached that milestone two weeks ago, when the Vikings scored consecutive sweeps of East Marshall and Independence. The celebration presentation was delayed a week because of rain that postponed last week's scheduled contests.

VSHS Principal Matt Kingsbury presented Coach Struve a plaque acknowledging the 500 wins, along with a baseball signed by team members.

Struve's parents, wife Jill and children all attended the event, and his parents presented him with a sign that will be placed on the entry to the baseball field.

Later on Monday, the Vikings gave Coach Struve his 501st win by defeating Williamsburg in the second game of their double-header. The Vikings, who had lost the first game, 3-2, in 8 innings, won the second one, 4-3.

The Vikings are now 5-3 on the season, with all three losses coming by just one run.

Errors are costing the Vikings. Pitcher Grant Sagan gave up no earned runs, but the game was tied 2-2 after seven innings in the first game. Luke Moen gave up just one hit in the seventh, but took the loss. Drew Pearson had a double and single in Game 1 and scored both of the Vikings' runs.

Four different Vikings scored in Game 2. Tayler Dinderman was the winning pitcher, striking out 5 in 5 2/3 innings.

See their game-by-game results page HERE.