Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Cam Varda.
ESCANABA---The Norway Vikings American Legion Baseball team opened its play in the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament on Friday with a pair of wins over UP teams, 13-2, over the Eastern U.P. Wood Ducks, and 7-4, over the Copper Country Flames.
The wins put the Vikings in the drivers seat in Pool B of the ten-team tournament, along with the Sheboygan (Wis.) A's, with both teams holding 2-0 records heading into Saturday's play. With heavy, all-day rain in the forecast, Friday's wins were important for the Dickinson County team to collect, with a spot in Sunday's semifinals in good shape.
In the first game, played in Gladstone, the Vikings took advantage of four EUP errors, as well as nine walks. Norway scored six runs in the second inning to take control, with Landon Amundson getting things going with a two-run single to right field. Two more runs scored on an error on Owen Baij's fly ball to right field.
Norway put the game away with a big rally in the top of the fourth inning. Cole Baij smacked a two-run double to center field to make it 8-0, and two more runs scored on a bases-loaded walk to Bryce Adama and a groundout by Niko Burgoon.
That made the score 10-0, and the Vikings scored three more unearned runs in the fifth inning to end the game on the mercy rule.
Carson McLean threw the first three innings, using only 30 pitches, to get the win on the mound, allowing one run on one hit. Cam Varda also used 30 pitches in relief, throwing the final two innings. He gave up one run on one hit and a walk.
The game against Copper Country, played in Escanaba under drizzly skies, was a lot more challenging for the Vikings. Norway took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Flames came back with four runs, three of them on a bases-clearing triple by Luke Mikkola in the second inning. The Vikings were behind, 4-3, heading to the fourth inning.
But in that fourth inning, Varda came through with a two-out, two-run single to center field to give the Vikings a 5-4 lead.
And then in the fifth inning, Adams had a soft line drive to center field for an RBI single to make it 6-4, and Burgoon's sacrifice fly gave the Vikings a 7-4 cushion.
That was more than enough offense, as Burgoon was nearly unhittable in his relief pitching appearance. Burgoon went 4 2/3 innings, allowing no base hits, to earn the win. He only used 44 pitches, 32 of which were strikes, fanning four and walking one.
Varda started the game and threw two innings, giving up four runs (none earned), on two hits and a walk. Adams got the final out for Burgoon, and earned a save.
Norway (3-0 overall, 2-0 tournament) will play two more games on Saturday, weather permitting. The Vikings will face two tough Wisconsin teams: Sheboygan at 11:45 CT, and DePere at 4:15 CT. Both games will be played in Gladstone, and both will be broadcast live on FM-94.3 and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com/breeze.
