On April 8th, the Vikings took the field for the first time this season, with right-handed pitcher (RHP) Trenton Fischer getting the start on the mound. The outfield of Nicco Caravella, Elijah Gammage, and Drew Spychalla, with the infield of Logan Zylka at 3rd, Nathan Hinek at shortstop, Ryan Funk at 2nd, and Cal Kreuser at 1st, with Ethan Trudell doing the catching.
Fischer started the game off with a three-pitch strikeout, with a little momentum boost to start the game, but Waukesha North ended up with a few hits, leading to 2 runs in the first inning. West’s offense took some time to find its rhythm, managing to get runners in scoring position throughout the first two innings, but they were not able to catch up.
After the second inning, West had no choice but to pull catcher Trudell due to an ongoing arm issue that had only gotten worse, resulting in Zylka moving from 3rd to behind the dish, Kreuser to 3rd, and Devin Kibler coming off the bench to play 1st.
After 3 and ⅔ innings of work from Fischer, coach Joseph Kolodziej made the call to bring in left-handed pitcher (LHP) Landon Gusk with the bases loaded. Waukesha North scored two runs during Gusk’s first five pitches due to some fielding errors, leading to unearned runs. After the top of the 4th, West was down 6-0. West was able to get some hard-hit balls, get on base, and start to put things together, only to leave runners in scoring position again.
West was able to tally one run on the board during the 5th, but it wouldn’t matter as Waukesha North got it back the next inning. West put in LHP Gavin Campeau at the top of the 7th, who tallied two strikeouts, but West couldn’t get the offense going in the bottom of the 7th. Kolodziej was disappointed with how the team played, lacking energy and mental focus, with better expectations for the following game.
After a rough first game, there was another opportunity in game two, which took place on April 9th at 7:30 PM at Frame Park in Waukesha. The energy at the first pitch was loud, with West’s dugout all up and cheering on everyone, as they scored in the first to take an early 1-0 lead. For the bottom half of the 1st, ace pitcher Eli Gammage had the bump under the lights, striking out two, with the last batter of that inning being one of them, and Gammage came off the mound pumped up as can be.
Gammage brought the energy into the dugout that had led to West getting two more runs on the board, and keeping the energy in their favor as the game went on.
Waukesha North had better plate discipline in the next inning, making contact and getting hits in their favor, putting up two runs and making the game closer. West’s offense was quiet the next inning, then in the bottom of the 3rd, Waukesha North would end up tying the game at 3. After a scoreless 4th inning for both teams, West put two runs in the 5th, but Waukesha North would put up five runs. Then, after that, the 6th inning was a repeat of the 5th, with West putting up two more runs, and Waukesha North putting up five more, resulting in a 13-7 loss for West
Despite West dropping the first two games of the season, some sparks of great potential were shown in the second game of the series against Waukesha North, and this season will be one that nobody will want to miss out on.
