Vikings Fall To Liberty 7-6 In Cedar Run Battle
BEALETON, VA - The Loudoun Valley Vikings traveled to Bealeton for a Cedar Run district match up against the Eagles from Liberty High School. In the top of the 5th inning with the Eagles leading 2-1, the Vikings scored 4 runs to take a 5-2 lead. Sophomore 3rd baseman Beattie Southerland led off the inning with a single. Freshman Matt McMahon who was just pulled up to the varsity a day earlier laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Southerland into scoring position. Southerland would move to third on a balk. Junior centerfielder Iain Mottice would coax a walk and swipe 2nd base. With runners at 2nd and 3rd, junior catcher Wes Walker delivered a double to the right field gap plating both Southerland and Mottice. Sophomore 1st baseman Alex Owens would single scoring Walker.
In the bottom half of the 5th inning, the Eagles would get one back making the score 5-3. In the top of the 6th inning, the Vikes would add to their lead when sophomore shortstop Daniel Fleming smacked a double and would score later in the inning on an Iain Mottice single. In the bottom half of the 6th inning, the Eagles would send ten hitters to the plate. Aided by a couple of Viking defensive miscues, Liberty would score four runs to take a 7-6 lead. In the top of the 7th inning, the Vikings had runners at 2nd and 3rd but Liberty relief pitcher Kurt Tiel would settle down by getting the final two outs with a stikeout and flyout to end the game.
The Vikings fall to 8-6 and 4-4 in the district. The Vikings have to put this one behind as they play Osbourn HS, another Cedar Run district opponent on Friday, May 2 at Fireman's Field. Game time is 6pm. With the season winding down, the Vikings last six games are all district games. Currently, Osbourn Park and Battlefield are atop the standings with four teams in the middle of the pack, Loudoun Valley, Osbourn, Stonewall Jackson, and Culpeper.
