Vikings share Far West League lead at 1-1
Sophomore clean-up hitter Jared Brandt drove in four runs in the opener, with a three-run double and a bases-loaded walk. Siuslaw's Michael Larson likes being in the middle of the action, whether it's snapping a football to begin play or throwing a pitch in baseball with meaning.
The junior right-hander got the Vikings off to a good start in the Far West League on Friday, combining with senior Kenneth Thrall in an 8-1 victory over the Marshfield Pirates at John "Jiggs" Dodson Field.
Marshfield won the second game of the doubleheader, 12-5, in a game shortened to six innings due to darkness.
"I like to pitch in baseball, and I like to be at center in football," Larson said. "I like kind of controlling, on the mound, and in football, being in the center."
At 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, he is neither the prototype pitcher nor offensive center.
But he is smart. He is savvy. And he keeps his head in the heat of battle.
"Michael is calm, cool and collected, despite the situation," Vikings pitching coach Dave Snow said.
"That's what's great about Michael: He keeps his head together when things are going wrong."
Larson tossed 79 pitches before exiting after four innings with an 8-1 lead in a game where a lot of things could have gone very wrong.
The Pirates left the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings and had two runners in scoring position in the third.
Larson shut the door in the second and third innings with swinging strikeouts, then finished his day by inducing a lazy fly ball with the bases loaded for the third out in the fourth inning.
"He stayed focused and threw strikes," Snow said. "He had a bit of a sore arm, so that's why we pulled him early."
Thrall took over then in a big way, striking out five over three scoreless innings for the save.
"I've coached Kenny since he was 7 years old, and I've got all the confidence in the world in that kid," Snow said.
"Anytime we get up there with a lead, and we put him in, I'm pretty confident we're going to keep it."
Sophomore third baseman Jared Brandt was the offensive catalyst in the opener, with a 3-run double in the Vikings' 5-run second and a bases-loaded walk for an RBI in a 3-run fourth.
NOTES
All six Far West League teams are 1-1 after the three season-opening doubleheaders were split. ...
Ben Martin, the Pirates' starting pitcher in Game 1, has signed a letter of intent to play football at Puget Sound. ...
Mapleton freshman left-hander Gabe Simington, expected to be Siuslaw's No. 2 starter, was not available for Friday's games, but should be on the mound next week when the Vikings travel to Brookings-Harbor for a single game Tuesday and to Douglas on Friday in Winston for a doubleheader. ...
Senior Caleb Paredes played great defense for the Vikings in center field, with a circus catch in each game. ...
LINESCORES
Friday, April 8, at John "Jiggs" Dodson Field
First game
MARSHFIELD 000 100 0 — 1 4 3
SIUSLAW 050 300 X — 8 4 0
Winning pitcher — Michael Larson. Losing pitcher — Ben Martin.
Second game
MARSHFIELD 142 203 —12 13 1
SIUSLAW 011 003 — 5 8 3
Winning pitcher — Mason Jussila. Losing pitcher — Darren Stinnett.
IMAGE GALLERY
