By Staff
After a slow start at the annual Bandit Yard Explosion tournament in Greenfield, Ind., the Niles Junior Baseball Vikings rolled to the championship.
The Vikings opened the tournament with a 5-4 loss to Indy Pony Express Baseball in eight innings. Taylor Ort led the team offensively with a triple and a single while Andrew Brawley added a two-RBI double and Nick Davis hit a triple. Ryan Johnson helped out with a single.
In the second game of pool play, the Vikings rebounded for an 8-4 win over Northmont Travel Baseball. Alec Taylor picked up the pitching victory for Niles with relief help from Ort, who struck out four batters in two innings.
Cam Luther led the team at the plate with two singles and a double. Noah Stevens added a pair of singles. Asaad Ali hit a two-RBI double, Ryan Johnson doubled and Cameron Sly hit a single.
Ort also picked up the save in the Vikings' third game, a 14-12 win over Ohio's JIC Dragons. Ort struck out seven batters in three innings.
Luther and Dominique Pompey paced the hitting attack with a double and two singles apiece. Taylor added three singles while Mike Simpson and Brawley each hit two singles.
In the semifinal round of the tournament, the Vikings beat the Indiana Sluggers 7-1. The Sluggers entered the game undefeated. Ryan Johnson went the distance on the mound, giving up five hits and striking out eight batters.
Ort tripled and hit two singles while Ryan Johnson helped his own cause with two singles. Davis hit a solo home run.
Finally, in the title game, the Vikings beat Pony Express Baseball 8-2.
Ort lasted five innings on the mound, giving up just three hits and striking out seven batters. Luther came on in relief and gave up just one hit with three strikeouts.
Davis hit two doubles and two singles to lead the offense. Simpson added a double and a single while Brawley, Corey Johnson and Ryan Johnson each hit a single.
The tournament title qualified the Vikings for the Hap Dumont World Series in Tunica, Miss. They now have a season record of 45-10.