By Rachel Haueter
For the Enterprise
The Viking baseball team opened its 2016 season last week as they took on two Idaho teams, coming away with a split.
At Homedale March 15, Vale lost a close game 4-2.
Strikeouts and errors plagued the Viks in their inaugural performance on the diamond.
Dawson Eddy and Josh Bucchholz pitched three innings each, giving up four runs on two hits.
“Both pitched pretty well,” said Vale coach Rick Yraguen. He noted three of Homedale’s four runs were unearned.
“We didn’t hit the ball very well as we could only manage five hits while striking out 15 times. The strikeouts are a real bother to me, but it was the first game of the year.”
Hitting the ball Were Eddy, 2/3, 1 RBI; Carson Brown, 1/3, Tanner Hamilton, 1/3; and Marco Gomez,1/3.
It was a much different outcome March 17 when Vale defeated visiting Parma 13-4.
Offensively, Trace Cummings set the tone of the game with a home run deep to left field.
Cummings was 2/2 for the day, with 3 RBIs, followed by Cody Towers,1/4, 1 RBI; Buchholz, 2/3, 1 RBI; Eddy, 1/3, 1 RBI; Gomez 1/4, 1 RBI; and Hamilton, 1/3.
“We struggled some at the plate,” said Yraguen. “But we are getting better swings.”
Buccholz and Gage Fortin were on the mound for Vale, with Buccholz getting the win.
Vale will be on the road this week playing a doubleheader against Willamina and Glide this Wednesday, March 23, in Burns. Thursday, the Viks will play Burns.
A rematch with Homedale is the next home game, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 30.