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Vikings stay hot
The Loudoun Valley Vikings extended their winning streak to five games with a 10-5 victory over Washington-Lee's baseball team on a beautiful April 12 afternoon at Fireman's Field in Purcellville.After the Generals, from Arlington, scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead, the Vikings responded with three runs in the fifth and four more tallies in the sixth to take full control.
Loudoun Valley improved to 6-2 on the season with a roster that includes just two seniors. The 10-run output marked the fourth time this season the Vikings have scored in double figures.
“Right now, we are a little bit ahead of where I thought we'd be. I wasn't sure early this season,” said coach Wayne Todd, who guided a senior-heavy Viking squad to the 2007 National District tournament championship.
“We won a big game against Westfield [to start this season]. Then we got run-ruled twice in a row and I didn't know how we were going to react,” Todd continued. “Actually, I came down on them pretty hard and we cleaned some things up. They've responded real well.”
Junior Kevin Rinek earned Saturday's pitching win. Rinek allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out seven in six innings on the mound. Junior reliever Daniel Burke worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to close out the game.
Seven Vikings combined for 10 hits in the win. Senior Thomas Moxley singled in three of his four plate appearances and also scored three runs.
Sophomore Beattie Southerland was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, including a two-run single with two outs in the fifth inning that snapped a 4-4 tie. Southerland also blasted a two-run double to the right-center field gap in the sixth inning that broke the game open.
“At first, he was a little overmatched. Now, he's started to catch up on some things,” Todd said. “He's starting to swing it pretty good right now.”
Along with starting 6-2 overall, the Vikings are 3-1 in their first run through the Cedar Run District. Valley joined Cedar Run this school year after two years in the National District.
The Vikings have posted wins over Culpeper, Osbourn and Liberty with the only setback coming against Osbourn Park.
“I like the district. It's very competitive,” Todd said. “There are not many weak teams in the district. It's not something where you can go out there and think you have an off-night.”
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