Vikings rally for tourney victory

By C.J. RISAK
Published March 22, 2005

DUNEDIN - Never count these guys out.

If Countryside wasn't aware that Northeast has taken every game down to the last out without surrendering, the Cougars learned it Monday at the 36th Dunedin Baseball Tournament at Knology Park.

A 5-0 lead certainly seemed safe entering the seventh inning. After all, the Vikings had done very little offensively, going hitless until the fifth and managing just two in the first six innings.

But four walks and a hit batsman, combined with four hits and a passed ball, shredded that five-run cushion as Northeast scored seven in the seventh to emerge with a 7-5 triumph.

The Vikings go into the second round against Clearwater at 7-3. Countryside dipped to 3-5.

"This is definitely a loose bunch," Northeast coach Roman Johnson said. "They know they can win a game. They may get frustrated with themselves every once in a while, but nobody's ever down. The confidence is always there.

"I told coach (Mike) Jansen I knew we had (a rally), I was just waiting for it."

The Vikings have "come from behind a couple of times," according to Johnson, but not like this.

After giving up a run-scoring single to T.J. Coles in the first inning and a two-run double to Coles in the second, the Vikings found themselves down 3-0. And in the fourth and fifth innings they added to their own misery by committing three errors that led to two more runs and a 5-0 Countryside lead.

With Connor McNulty on the mound for the Cougars, it seemed Northeast was in trouble.

But McNulty, who held the Vikings hitless until the fifth, weakened in the sixth and was relieved, after pitching 51/3 scoreless innings.

Austin Gaines, who relieved Northeast starter Galen Bringas in the fourth, was tough down the stretch on the Cougars. Gaines gave up one unearned run on one hit, one walk and two hit batters in four innings to earn the victory.

Northeast's winning rally started with a lead-off single by Austin Yee against Countryside reliever Joshua Castanza. A hit batsmen and two walks got the Vikings their first run and brought Tyler Staton to the mound. He walked the only batter he faced, forcing in a second run. Countryside coach Darnell Coles summoned Jimmy Gregorich to the mound.

The Vikings teed off on Gregorich. A passed ball made it 5-3, then with two out Joey Tribou delivered a two-run double to left-center field to tie the score.

Chase Newman followed with another double, scoring Tribou with the go-ahead run, and Bryan Moon singled in Newman with an insurance run.

Newman and Moon led Northeast's attack with a double and a single apiece,each driving in a run.

"We got the big hits at the right times," Johnson said.

It took a while, but the Vikings did deliver.

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 01:22:12]