Roebothan, McKay and Marshall Gonzaga Vikings won the opening game of the best of seven St. John’s Senior baseball final series with an 8-4 decision over Shamrocks Thursday night at St. Pat’s Ball Park.
The vikings scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Matthew Peterson gets the win and Greg Barry is tagged with the loss.
Offense for the Vikings was scattered throughout the line-up.. Bernie Madden was 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base. Troy Croft was 1 for 3 with three RBI. Gerald Butt was 1 for 2 with two walks (one intentional), a strikeout, a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base.
The Shamrocks’ offense meanwhile was concentrated among three hitters. Jay Warford was 3 for 4 with a run scored and a double. Andrew Symonds was 3 for 4 with an RBI, a strikeout, and a stolen base. Lastly, Trevor Clarke was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The game was ultimately decided in the top of the first inning when the Vikings led off with four straight hits. Three of these batters came around to score, and then an error by shortstop Trevor Clarke perpetuated the Shamrocks’ struggles. The Shamrocks threatened in the bottom of the seventh, mounting a comeback attempt while 5 down as they loaded the bases with nobody out. It was at this point that Dan Connors, the hard-throwing right-hander, was given the ball. He soon got Scott Stockley to line out to Karl Dehart (who made a diving catch on the play) in right field, and struck out Andrew Symonds looking. Connors walked in a run on the next batter, but got Dave Penney to ground out for the final play of the game. Vikings take game one, 8-4.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gonzaga 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 7 1
Shamrocks 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 4 9 4
Game two is set for Saturday at 3:30.
