Heavy rains overnight and all morning have caused the cancellation of all of Friday's games at the Gene Cusic Classic, including a game between North Park and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The Vikings finished the week 3-2 with wins over Southern Vermont (twice) and Carroll while dropping one-run games to Haverford and St. Lawrence. North Park's JV team also swept a pair of contests against Dubuque (see recaps below).
JV Game #1 (March 9): North Park 15, Dubuque 4
North Park scored in six of seven innings and coasted to a 15-4 victory. The Spartans scored a pair of runs in the first against starter Tim Cederberg on two hits and two errors, but the Vikings bounced back with four runs in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch (scoring Jack Murphy), a double by Brad Medina (driving in Zach Berryman), a groundout off the bat of Jake Passini (scoring Medina), and a single by Dan Treccia (scoring Nick Lancisi).
Dubuque tied the score in the second on a pair of singles, two walks, and a hit batsman, but once again the Vikes replied with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Berryman and Medina cracked back-to-back doubles to bring in Sean Witt, Murphy, and Berryman. They widened their lead with three more in the third on a single by Witt (scoring Treccia), a double by Murphy (bringing in scoring Witt), and a wild pitch (allowing Jake Laffey to score). North Park continued their onslaught with two more in the fifth on Treccia's solo home run ton right and an error (scoring Witt). The Vikings wrapped up their scoring with three runs in the sixth on a fielder's choice by Laffey to score Vince Campanella and a two-run single by Witt to drive in Lancisi and Laffey.
The Viking moundsmen provided solid relief to preserve the victory. Adam Paulin and Mike Martin each worked two scoreless innings, yielding one hit apiece.
The offense was led by Medina and Treccia (each going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs), while Berryman, Witt, and Campanella had two hits apiece.
JV Game #2 (March 11): North Park 12, Dubuque 4
The Viking bats were also strong in the second JV game of the spring trip as they took a 12-4 decision against Dubuque.
Medina's long two-run homer to left put the Vikings up 2-0. Dubuque scored two runs in the first against Viking starter Karl Lundholm. North Park regained the advantage with two in the third on a groundout by Laffey and a double by Medina. Dubuque drew to within a run after scoring a tally in the third against reliever Alex Czubak.
The Vikings broke the game open with five runs in the fourth, all after two outs. Witt reached third on a throwing error, Paulin singled, Laffey hit a two-run single, and Berryman slammed a two-run double. They tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth on a single by Treccia and a double play to score Lancisi. After the Spartans added an unearned run off reliever Esteban Carrasco, Medina's second home run -- a solo shot that traveled 405 feet to left-center, close out the offensive attack. Jeff Davis worked the final two innings, retiring all six batters he faced, fanning four.
Medina paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBIs, and two runs scored, while Laffey and Berryman each finished 2-for-4. Lundholm, Czubak, and Davis worked two innings apiece and Carrasco logged one inning of mound work.
|
