Vikings hold off Harrisburg in opener, 8-5

Siuslaw junior Caleb Hennessee

The Siuslaw Vikings plated four runs in the first inning and held off Harrisburg, 8-5, in a the nonleague season-opening baseball game Wednesday at Siuslaw.

The Vikings host Sutherlin in a doubleheader Thursday, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. Coast Radio will broadcast the games.

"We were pitcher by committee tonight because of three games in two days, as well as this being our first outing," Siuslaw coach Tom Shinn said. "I didn't want to stretch anyone too thin.

"I really liked the approach that the team took in their at bats in the first two innings. We had focused on some specific offensive ideas during the first two weeks, things that I felt really hurt us last season.

"I hope the kids see how that work had been successful. I felt like we got away from that a little in the middle innings, third, fourth, and fifth, but refocused in the sixth to close it out."

Senior Gabe Simington and sophomore Chayton James had 2 RBIs each for the Vikings, while James, junior Jared Northrop and sophomore Elijah Blankenship each scored 2 runs.

Northrop and Blankenship had 2 stolen bases each, while Blankenship and Simington both had doubles for the only extra-base hits by the Vikings.

Junior Caleb Hennesse pitched 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief for the win, while sophomore Dalton Stinger, Siuslaw's sixth and final pitcher in the game, hurled a scoreless seventh for the save.

Senior Dax Bennett led Harrisburg with 2 runs scored, a double and a stolen base. Senior co-captain Devin Nelson, the starting pitcher, had a triple and a run scored.

Siuslaw's six pitchers combined for 9 strikeouts and 4 walks.

Harrisburg fell to 0-2 on the season, losing its season opener 17-12 Monday at Monroe.

Scoring:

HARRISBURG 101 012 0 — 5 6 2
SIUSLAW 410 102 X — 8 8 1
Devin Nelson, Brennan Erickson (4), Kyrin Biggerstaff (6) and Korban Lang; Gabe Simington, Caleb Hennessee (2), Tim Lowder (3), Jared Northrop (5), Clay Kramer (6), Dalton Stinger (7) and Zach Stinger. WP — Hennessee. LP — Nelson. Sv — D. Stinger.

VIKINGS VARSITY ROSTER
Sophomores
2 Chayton James, 6-0, outfielder, infielder
4 Elijah Blankenship, 5-6, catcher, infielder
7 Clay Kramer, 6-1, outfielder, right-handed pitcher
21 Dalton Stinger, 6-1, right-handed pitcher, utility
Juniors
1 Jared Northrop, 5-6, right-handed pitcher, shortstop
3 Clayton Remilong, 5-8, outfielder, infielder
8 Caleb Hennessee, 6-0, right-handed pitcher, infielder
10 Zach Stinger, 5-10, catcher, infielder
Seniors
17 Tim Lowder, 6-0, right-handed pitcher, utility
22 Jordan Taniguchi, 5-10, utility
34 Gabe Simington, 6-2, left-handed pitcher, first base
Coach: Tom Shinn
Assistants: Dirk Anderson, Conway Pebley

VIKINGS 2019 SCHEDULE
Record:1-0 overall, 0-0 Sky-Em League
Nonleague
Wednesday, March 13 — at Siuslaw 8, Harrisburg 5
Thursday, March 14 — Sutherlin (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19 — Pleasant Hill, 5 p.m.
Friday, March 22 — at Mazama, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 — at Klamath Union (DH), 11 a.m.
Tuesday, March 26 — Neah-Kah-Nie, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2 — Douglas (DH), 3 p.m.
Sky-Em League
Tuesday, April 9 — at Marist, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 12 — Junction City (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16 — Cottage Grove, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 19 — at Elmira (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 23 — at Marshfield, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 26 — Marist (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30 — at Junction City, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 3 — at Cottage Grove (DH), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7 — Elmira, 5 p.m.
Friday, April 10 — Marshfield (DH), 3 p.m.