Vikings sweep Villisca

STANTON – The Vikings completed their regular season sweep of Villisca and Clarinda Academy last week.

After losing their week’s first game against Sidney, 9-7, Tuesday, the Vikings returned home to face Villisca for the second and final time this regular season.

After slipping behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning, the Vikings’ bats came alive, putting eight runs on the board in the bottom half.

Zach McCarthy led the Vikings, reaching base every time he stepped up to the plate, batting two of two with a double and reaching on two walks. He scored once and stole a base.

Starting pitcher Tanner Stubbendeck also reached on two walks and hit one of two, scoring two runs and stole two bases.

Stubbendeck only gave up one earned run on five hits while striking out five Blue Jay batters, while picking up his third win of the season and lowering his earned run average to 1.18.

The Vikings faced Clarinda Academy both Friday and Saturday.

Friday, Stanton beat the Eagles in Clarinda, 27-10, in four innings.

Every starter got a hit in the Vikings’ big win, led by Stubbendeck and designated hitter Braden Quist. Stubbendeck drove in four runs hitting three of six, lacking only a home run from hitting for the cycle. Quist reached once on a base on balls and batted three of four with an RBI and a double.

Zach McCarthy picked up the win, pitching four innings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. McCarthy struck out six Eagles.

Saturday, the Vikings hosted the Eagles on Stanton’s Baseball Day.

Tyler Havrum picked up his first win of the season on the mound, striking out 10 batters and giving up only one hit in Stanton’s 13-2 win.

Stubbendeck, Quist, Alex Whigham, and Jordan Williams each scored multiple runs in the win. Stubbendeck led the way scoring three runs on one hit, one walk, and was hit by a pitch.

Havrum also helped his own cause driving in three runs, batting one of one with a double and walked in his only other plate appearance.