By John Cackowski
State Director

Denver - The Denver North Vikings shocked the Thomas Jefferson Spartans by scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to win 10-8 in an important game that could determine which program gets to host for the 4A district playoffs.

The Vikings came out strong to start taking a 3 to 1 lead into the 4th inning. 2017 RHP Jose Pepe Robles was dominant early striking out 5 of the first batters, and 6 total in the first three innings, while also hitting a 2-run double in the bottom of the 3rd to put the Vikings up 3-1.

In the top of the 4th the Spartans got to Robles scoring  4 runs to take a 5-3 lead highlighted by a 2-run double by 2018 OF Conner Side. Then in the top of the 6th the Spartans would tack on 3 more runs after 3 straight 2-out singles off Robles.

Spartans starter 2017 RHP Trystan Kimmel was effective for the first 5 innings limiting the Vikings to 3 runs, but started running out of gas in the 6th. The Spartans brought in 2016 RHP John Darr to close out the game. That's when the Vikings offense exploded.

Down 8-3 in the bottom of the 6th, the Vikings would get 6 hits off Darr in the inning highlighted by a 2-run double by 2018 RF Harris Williams, and then a 2-run home run from the 4A leading hitter 2017 SS Judah Wilbur to tie the game. 2016 INF Danny Gurrola then followed a 2-run double himself to put the Vikings up 10-8 and would ultimately be the game winning hit. Wilbur would close out the game on the mound with a 1-2-3 top of the 7th.

This was the first time the Vikings had beaten the Spartans in a very long time, and it also improved the Vikings record to 15-1 on the season. The Spartans fall to 12-3 on the year. Both teams will face off again at Thomas Jefferson on Saturday 5-7.