Game 1

New Castle, IN – The Huntington North Vikings traveled to take on conference opponent New Castle Trojans on Saturday afternoon for a double header. New Castle jumped on the board first in game one when Grant Malott (2014) doubled down the left field line bringing home two runs. Michael Bear (2013) started the game for New Castle sitting 81-85, but had to leave in the third inning after he dislocated his none throwing arm.

Huntington North’s offense got started in the third inning when Kendall Whitman (2012) drew a bases loaded walk scoring Ethan Bartrom (2012), who doubled to lead off the inning. Huntington North would score two more in the fourth, Bartrom scored again after reaching on a walk and eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Braydin Stell (2013) produced a two out single in to drive in another run and give the Vikings a 3-2 lead. They added another run in the fifth when Mitch Trieglaff (2012) hit a one out bases loaded double, but two runners were thrown out at the plate to end the rally.

Evan Brown (2013) started on the mound for Huntington. He went five plus innings sitting 79-82. After the first inning, he allowed just four hits over the next four innings. He finished the day with a line of six hits, no earned runs, no walks, and four strikeouts. Stell replaced Brown in the sixth with runners on first and second, but got out of the inning without allowing any damage and threw the 7^th to pick up the save. Stell sat mostly 80-80, but in the sixth to pick up a one out strikeout hit touched 84 once and 85 twice.

Final: Huntington North 5 New Castle 2

Game 2

New Castle, IN – Game two of the day featured two of the top arms in the state. Huntington North started Trevor Storie (Heartland commit) and New Castle started Trey Ball (Texas commit). This time Huntington North jumped out to an early lead scoring in the first, second, and fourth innings. In the first the Vikings got a two out RBI single off the bat of Evan Brown bringing home Kendall Whitman. In the second Ethan Bartrom got on with an infield single, stole second, and the scored on a RBI single from Brock Gower (2012). In the fourth Mitch Trieglaff would get to second on an error by the right fielder and would later score on a passed ball. Cody Frazier (2012) added a two out RBI single to give Huntington a 4-0 lead.

Trevor Storie cruised through the first five innings allowing just three hits and striking out five. Storie sat 84-85, but touched 86-87 on several pitches. In the 6^th New Castle would finally get runs on the board. After an error allowed Adam Kranda to reach first, Grant Malott doubled setting up second and third. After getting the next batter to popped out, Kranda scored on a wild pitch and Malott scored on a groundball, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Storie came out for the seventh inning, but had to leave the game after leadoff hitter Conner King (2012) hit a ball off the back of Storie’s leg. Braydin Stell came in for another save opportunity and after giving up a double to the first batter he faced he set down New Castle’s 3-4-5 hitters in order to save the win.

Storie’s picked up the win throwing six plus innings, allowing six hits, one earned run, striking out five. Trey Ball took the loss going six innings, allowing six hits, allowing two earned runs, and striking out four. Ball sat 90-93 through the first two innings and 88-92 throughout the rest of his four innings.

Final: Huntington North 4 New Castle 3