Vikings ready to take on Far West League
Junior righthander Michael Larson is a team captain and the Vikings' No. 1 starter entering Far West League action today. Junior Michael Larson and senior Michael Mason were stalwarts along the Siuslaw Vikings line this past football season, on both offense and defense.
Today the pair will form the primary battery as the Vikings host Marshfield in a Far West League baseball opener at John "Jiggs" Dodson Field.
First pitch of the doubleheader is 3 p.m.
"Michael Mason has been hitting the ball well, and he's a tough character behind the plate," Siuslaw coach Tony Castro said.
"He doesn't realize how good he is. Once he figures it out, he's really going to have a good year."
Mason will be the primary catcher and Larson will be the No. 1 starter as the Vikings head into the 15-game league schedule.
Castro's regulars in the rest of the infield will be junior Brogan Cornish at first base, senior Scott Gordon at second base, senior Kenneth Thrall at shortstop and sophomore Jared Brandt at third base.
Senior Caleb Paredes will anchor the outfield in center, with sophomore Darren Stennett in left and sophomore Evan Teter in right. Senior Ryan Denning also will roam the outfield for the Vikings.
"We're looking for good things now that league is here," Castro said. "But it's going to be a difficult task."
It wasn't made easier by playing a noncounting game the day before, the Vikings falling to Pleasant Hill, 5-2.
"I would have liked a day to rest before the openers," Castro said. "But my boys got character, and we'll come out and play tough tomorrow."
To keep the regular pitchers fresh, the Vikings used position players on the mound Thursday, with Gordon, Cornish and Paredes each taking turns.
Gordon, who said he hadn't pitched in a game since he was a freshman, unleashed a nice curveball on the visiting Billies.
"He surprised me and did pretty well," Castro said, allowing that he wouldn't hesitate to call on Gordon to pitch during league play if needed.
Larson will start today's opener, with Stinnett pencilled in to start Game 2. Thrall will be counted on to close games.
Castro's batting lineup is taking form, with Gordon leading off, Stinnett in the 2 hole and Thrall batting third.
Brandt will bat cleanup and Paredes will bat fifth. Thursday's 6-7-8-9 hitters were Cornish, Mason, Teter and Larson.
Offense has been hit and miss so far this season, the bats mostly missing in action Thursday after the Vikings swept Junction City this past weekend.
"The boys were hitting the cover off the ball at Junction City," Castro said. "Our bats were a little quiet today, but I expect good things."
NOTES
Siuslaw wore its new game uniforms Thursday against the Billies. ... Oddly enough, blue and gold are the official school colors for both the Vikings and the Billies. ...
Vikings pitchers hit seven Billies batters in the game, including four in a row in the sixth inning to force in a run. ...
Scott Gordon and Brogan Cornish each reached with a leadoff error and came around to score, Gordon in the bottom of the first and Cornish in the bottom of the fifth. ...
Billies' senior lefthander Noah Casarez pitched the first four innings for the win. ... Junior righthander Bryce Moore pitched the final three innings for the save. ...
Pleasant Hill and Siuslaw are scheduled for home-and-home football games the next two seasons, with the Billies hosting this fall and the Vikings returning the favor in 2017. ...
Siuslaw beat Pleasant Hill last fall in a preleague football game, 24-6, at Hans Petersen Field. ...
LINESCORE
Thursday April 7, at Siuslaw High School
PLEASANT HILL 210 101 0 — 5 6 4
SIUSLAW 100 010 0 — 2 2 0
Winning pitcher — Noah Casarez. Losing pitcher — Scott Gordon. Save — Bryce Moore.
IMAGE GALLERY
