By Becky Walz,
The Decorah baseball team (21-5, 14-1 NEIC) finished last week strong against a couple of non-conference opponents, defeating Columbus and MFL MarMac.
Columbus
With a gritty pitching performance, strong defense and timely hitting, the Vikings got back in the win column Wednesday, defeating Waterloo Catholic Columbus (18-9) at home, 8-7.
“There were many exciting moments in the game in which we played really good team baseball. It is always great to see our kids be resilient and find ways to pick up their teammates to help win ball games,” said Coach Adam Riley.
The Vikes broke through first, scoring two runs in the first. Cael Luzum doubled Decorah’s tally with a two-run bomb over the right field fence in the second. Columbus scratched a run across home plate in the fourth, only to walk Briggs Duwe, who quickly stole second and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning. Keenan Tyler rapped out a single and sped around the bases scoring as well in the frame to give Decorah a 6-1 advantage.
Decorah saw the lead vanish in the top of the seventh as the Sailors sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring six runs to take the lead on four hits, two walks and two Viking errors. Decorah’s James Marx started the bottom of the seventh with a single, moving to third on stolen bases and scored the tying run on a wild pitch. With two outs, Luzum was issued a walk and quickly made his way around the bases, stealing home to win the game for the Vikings.
Dane Frieden collected the win after Briggs Duwe started on the hill for Decorah. Making appearances on the mound for Decorah as well were Drew Snyder and Noah Storts.
Luzum came up big for the Vikings, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer and double with two RBI and three stolen bases. Marx had three hits in the contest and a trio of stolen bases as well, while Keenan Tyler had two hits and drove in three runs.
R H E
Columbus 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 7 9 2
Decorah 2 2 0 2 0 0 2 8 9 2
Dane Frieden (WP) – 1/3IP, 1H, 1K; Briggs Duwe (SP) – 5IP, 1R, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K; Drew Snyder (RP) – 1IP, 1H; Noah Storts (RP) – 2/3IP, 6R, 2ER, 3H, 3BB
HR – Cael Luzum 1; 2B – Luzum 1; 1B – James Marx 3; Keenan Tyler 2; Duwe 1; Cai Brevig 1; RBI – Luzum 2; Marx 1; SB – Luzum 3; Marx 3; Tyler 3; Joseph Hjelle 1; Duwe 1
Back on the road
Several good offensive innings led to the Vikings shortening Thursday’s game to six innings as Decorah defeated MFL MarMac (10-16, 8-8 UIC) in Monona, 12-2.
“Tyler Thompson had an excellent night on the mound to really lead our effort,” said Coach Riley. “Offensively, we had a lot of good at-bats in which we aggressively hit the ball where it was pitched.”
The Vikings led off the game with a three runs scored by Luzum, Duwe and Tyler in the first. The hitting was contagious in the third for the Decorah as the squad plated five runs on a double, four singles and a walk. The Bulldogs would see Cullen McShane and Max Havlicek make their way around the bases in the bottom of the third, but that would be all the scoring MFL MarMac would do. Decorah went on to plate two runs in the fourth and sixth frames to close out the game early.
Thompson threw nearly a complete game with eight strikeouts and two hits.
For the Vikings, Luzum was 3-for-4 with a triple and two doubles. Tyler and Thompson also smacked out doubles for Decorah.
Chauncy Drahn pounded out a triple for the Bulldogs, who tallied just five hits on the night.
R H E
Decorah 3 0 5 2 0 2 x 12 12 3
MFL MM 0 0 2 0 0 0 x 2 5 1
Tyler Thompson (WP) – 5-2/3IP, 2R, 2ER, 5H, 4BB, 8K; Dane Frieden (RP) – 1/3IP, 1K
3B – Luzum 1; 2B – Luzum 2; Tyler 1; Thompson 1; 1B – Tyler 2; Kody Bodensteiner 2; Noah Storts 1; Thompson 1; Matthew Smith 1; RBI – Tyler 2; Storts 2; Thompson 2; Bodensteiner 2; Luzum 1; Smith 1; SB – Tyler 3; Storts 1; Bodensteiner 1
This week
Decorah will play its final NEIC game at home Tuesday, July 6, versus Crestwood at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, the Vikes will host Turkey Valley at 7 p.m., then entertain Clear Lake Thursday.
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