By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Despite a split in Tuesday's Big 16 Conference West Division doubleheader with Mattawan, the Niles varsity baseball team remains right in the thick of the championship chase.
The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in Division 2, and the Wildcats are tied at 3-1in the division and both are chasing Lakeshore.
Mattawan won the opening game 9-7, but the Vikings rallied to take the nightcap, 9-1.
In the first game, Mattawan used a seven-run third inning to break open the close contest.
Niles outhit the Wildcats 8-6, but could not catch Mattawan despite a four-run sixth inning.
Mikie Simpson took the loss with relief help from Taylor Robson.
Offensively for the Vikings, Zach Bloss went 2-for-4 with a triple. Niles also got doubles from D.J. Wolnik, Alex Welch, Asaad Ali and Kevin Gross.
"We gave away the first game," Niles coach Mike Vota said. "Our pitchers walked 11 batters. We need to improve pitch quality and getting ahead of batters. Our hitters can not wait until the sixth and seventh innings to try and mount a comeback. More focus is needed each at-bat and not just late in games."
Bloss scattered eight hits as he picked up the win for Niles in the nightcap.
The Vikings (15-4, 3-1 West Division) scored three runs in the first inning and then two runs in the second, third and sixth innings to take the win.
The Wildcats' lone run came in the seventh inning.
Niles finished with nine hits in the game, including three more extra base hits.
Wolnik went 3-for-3 with a double, while Welch tripled and Ali doubled. Bloss and Dan Holland both added a pair of hits.
"Zach Bloss pitched extremely well and our hitters were focused from the start," Vota said. "We put seven runs up in the early innings and that was all Bloss needed for his complete game."
First Game
Mattawan 007 002 0 – 9 6 0
Niles 010 004 2 – 7 8 1
WP – Ryan Nichols (M), Mike Webb (7, S) and Nick Wallace
LP – Mikie Simpson (N), Taylor Robson (4) and Dan Holland
2B: D.J. Wolnik (N), Alex Welch (N), Asaad Ali (N), Kevin Gross (N)
3B: Zach Bloss (N), Alex Crook (M)
Second Game
Mattawan 000 001 – 1 8 4
Niles 322 02x – 9 9 1
WP – Zach Bloss (N) and Dan Holland
LP – Nick Gaul (M) and Nick Wallace
2B: Asaad Ali (N), D.J. Wolnik (N) , Alex Crook (M), Mike Allen (M)
3B: Alex Welch (N)
Records
Niles 15-4, 3-1 in West Division; Mattawan 12-6, 3-1 West Division