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By Jon Kaufman 
 PBR Area Coverage

The Northside Vikings got a three-hitter from junior righthander Sam McLaughlin, blanking the Patrick Henry Patriots in a five inning, 10-0 victory. The win was the Vikings first of 2017, evening their record to 1-1.

Neither team would tack any runs on the scoreboard in the first inning, however, Northside exploded in the second frame, scoring eight runs on eight hits off Patriot righty Ryan McEachern. Junior first baseman Tallin Middleton's one out, gap-seeking double got the party started. McEachern issued a hit by pitch to senior catcher Izik Duncan, and McLaughin's RBI single scored Middleton for the first run of the game. DH Hunter Florow's two out, opposite field triple opened the flood gates for the Vikings. In all, seven runs crossed the plate on a mixture of poor Patriot fielding and timely hitting by Northside.

In the third, the Vikings were at it again. Northside's Duncan lashed a single to left to start the inning, ending the day for McEachern.  Duncan advanced to second on a wild pitch, while Florow and LF Kasey Draper would reach on a base on balls, loading the bases. Leadoff hitter Austin Atkins was hit by a pitch scoring Duncan, followed by a Brandon Golden walk that would raise the lead to ten runs in the bottom of the forth.

Patrick Henry's Nick Logan reached on an error to start off the fifth inning, followed by a one out single by Bryce Tackett, who also doubled to lead off the visitors third. Mason Carter worked a four pitch walk to stack the bags. McLaughlin would buckle down and preserve his first shutout of the season, inducing two fly ball outs to end the game.

McLaughlin allowed just four hits in the five inning contest, struck out five, and walked just one batter.

The two game set between Northside and Patrick Henry resumes on March 22 at Patrick Henry High School at 5:00pm.

 

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