Vikings stay hot with win

By Mo Cranker on May 1, 2018.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

While it’s often the most-hated day of the week, the Crescent Heights High School baseball team had no issues taking to Athletic Field Monday, chalking up another win, this time over the Medicine Hat High School JV Mohawks.

The Vikings cruised to a 15-5 win Monday evening, moving to 7-1 on the year in the process.

“We were aggressive on the sticks tonight,” said Vikings head coach Brendon Lawes. “The last couple games, we’ve come out a little slow out of the gate, but we settled in tonight, timed up the pitcher and got runners on the bases.

“It’s important to put pressure on the pitcher, and that’s what we did tonight.”

The JV Mohawks took a 3-2 lead into the third inning, before the Vikings were able to post eight runs, with another five in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

“We’re expected to win games in the Tier 2 side of things this year,” said Lawes. “We’re looking forward to going to provincials this year, that’s on our mind, so we’re playing every game with the hopes of getting a good matchup.

“Sitting at 7-1 now on the year, we’re looking for that top spot.”

Though he is always happy with a win, Lawes said there are improvements to be made.

“We fell asleep there in the top of the fifth and gave up some runs that we didn’t need to,” he said. “We had enough to respond in the bottom half to get back to a 10-run lead, but you don’t like giving up runs.

“Eliminating errors in our game is obviously important, so to only have three is good for us going forward.”

Heyden Harrison tossed all five innings for the Vikings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out six in the process.

“He’s been great for us,” he said. “He’s a big Grade 10 student, so we know we’ll get two more years out of him.

“He’s got a great first-pitch strike percentage, and he’s developing really well — we’re all looking forward to the rest of his Vikings career.”