Colfax baseball nipped by Spring Valley Cardinals
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by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
The Viking baseball team finally got onto a playing field and came oh so close to earning an opening season win when they traveled to Spring Valley Thursday, April 10. After coming from behind twice and leading by a run late in the game, the Vikings couldn’t close the deal and suffered a 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Spring Valley is usually one of the top teams in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference each year, but the Vikings put up a good fight throughout the game.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Colfax hurler Zach Hiitola shut the Cardinals down the next three innings. Colfax knotted the score in the top of the fourth but Spring Valley regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a single run.
The Vikings broke out with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and led 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh. Caleb Bailey replaced Hiitola, and after shutting the Cardinals down in the bottom of the sixth, Bailey struggled in the seventh as he gave up two runs, allowing the Cardinals to walk off with the win.
The Vikings banged out seven hits in the game with Brady Elmer leading the way going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Conner Arntson slammed a double. Rob Holman picked up a hit and an RBI and Drew Buchner reached base on a single and a walk,stealing two bases. Hiitola gave up three hits with two runs and whiffed 11 batters while Bailey threw 1 1/3 innings striking out two batters and giving up three hits. The Viking hitters didn’t help themselves with 12 punch-outs in the contest off starter Will Biggs. Although Biggs went 6 2/3 innings, Trevor Forester was credited with the win for getting the last Colfax out in the top of the seventh.
Elk Mound at Colfax Monday. The Vikings then hit the road for three straight games as they travel to Elmwood this Thursday to face Elmwood/Plum City, play in Cochrane-Fountain City next Monday, April 21 and finish with a game at Glenwood City on Tuesday, April 22.
Colfax 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 – 3
Spring Valley 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 – 4