Viking Headlines
5/20 - Falcons end Vikings season in 5, 11-0
Northwest fantastic season came to an end in the final 16 of the 4A state playoffs with an 11-0 loss to Southeast Guilford. The Vikings defense broke down in the first inning leading to nine unearned Falcon runs. The Viking offense never recovered and only had two base runners all night, an infield single and a reached on an error. Southeast would also tack on a run in the second and fourth innings to end the game after the top of the fifth by the 10 run rule.
Although the Vikings would liked to have had a better showing against the Falcons, they still have lots to be proud of this year. After a 3-5 start, Northwest won 16 of its last 21 games. The Vikings finished third in the Coastal Athletics Easter Spring Break Tournament in Wilmington going 2-1. Three of the participants in that tournament are in the final 4 of the 4A East. Northwest won its third conference tournament in four seasons, beating second seeded Southwest Guilford and first seeded Glenn to capture the title. The Vikings made it to the round of 16 in the 4A state playoffs for the fourth time in seven years defeating South Mecklenburg and nationally ranked Charlotte Providence along the way.
Northwest finished the season at 19-10. It was the third highest win total of a Sonny Gann coached team (24 2007 and 21 2009) since taking over the Northwest program in 2005.
| NW | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
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| G | 9 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
X |
11 |
9 |
1 |
5/18 - Viking shock Panthers 5-3 for second round win
Northwest went down to Charlotte Providence and shocked the #1 ranked team in the state and nationally ranked in two polls, 5-3. The Vikings used the long ball and great pitching and defense to pull the upset.
Northwest, 19-9, will travel to Southeast Guilford in the final 16 Friday night at 7:00.
The Vikings jumped on the Panthers with two early runs in the first. Adam Swim doubled with one out and Ben Schmucker homered to right center with two outs to put the Vikings ahead 2-0. The Vikings left the bases loaded in the first as Duncan Everett singled and Keaton Haack doubled following the Schmucker home run.
Steven Plante singled with one out in the fourth and moved to second on a passed ball. Sanders Kuxhausen followed with a single to move Plante to third. Swim then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Plante and extend the Viking lead to 3-0. The following inning, Everett and Jackson Bellenkes hit solo home runs to extend the Northwest lead to 5-0.
The Vikings had chances to tack on runs in the sixth and the seventh but left five runners on in those innings.
Keaton Haack started the game and pitched two solid innings striking out three. Unfortunately, Haack took a fast ball off the hand in an at bat in the top of the third and had to leave the game. His status for Friday is doubtful.
Duncan Everett entered the game in the third and got off to a shaky start, hitting the first batter he faced and giving up a single. Everett settled down and got the next Providence hitter, who has signed with N.C. State, to fly out to right. Everett then coaxed the next hitter, a Clemson signee, to swing at his splitter. Plante fielded at third, stepped on the bag and threw across the diamond for the inning ending double play.
Everett would then retire six hitters in order the fourth and fifth before running into trouble in the sixth. Everett give up a two out three run home run in that inning, but struck out the final batter of the inning.
Everett allowed two runners in the seventh, but worked through it to close out the game. Sanders Kuxhausen snagged a line drive for the last out and the upset was in the books, Northwest 5 Charlotte Providencene 3.
| NW | 2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
0 |
|
| P | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
STATS:
Adam Swim 2 for 3 2B, run, RBI
Ben Schmucker 1 for 2 2 run HR
Duncan Everett 2 for 4 HR
Jackson Bellenkes 1 for 2 HR
Steven Plante 2 for 3 run
5/13 - Vikings advance to second round with 7-4 over Sabres
Northwest used a big first inning, good defense and pitching efforts from Duncan Everett and Adam Swim to survive and advance 7-4 over South Mecklenburg in the North Carolina 4A West state playoffs. Next up for the Vikings, now 18-9, is Charlotte Providence, the current #1 ranked 4A team in the state. Game time will be 7:00 on Tuesday night.
In the bottom of the first Adam Swim singled with one out to get the rally started. Following a fielders choice, Ben Schmucker singled to move Chris Corbett to second. Duncan Everett the reached on an error to load the bases. Corbett would score on a wild pitch to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Keaton Haack followed with a single up the middle to score Schmucker and Jesse Juday, Everett's courtesy runner, to extend the Viking lead to 3. Jackson Bellenkes then cackled the trees in left field on a 3-1 pitch to give Northwest a 5-0 lead after the first.
Sanders Kuxhausen led off the bottom of the second with home run to straight away center to tack on another run for Vikings.
The Vikings would push their final run across in the fourth. Kuxhausen started the inning off with a single and moved to second on a Sabre error.
Schmucker then singled home Kuxhausen for the final Northwest run. Everett went five and two thirds innings allowing 3 runs, 6 hits, striking out nine and walking three. Everett only allowed three base runners the first five innings before running into some trouble in the sixth. Swim entered a 7-3 ball game with two out and the bases loaded and got the Sabre hitter to pop to short. Swim would surrender a run in the seventh, but struck out the last South Meck hitter with runners on second and third to preserve the win.
| SM | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
|
| NW | 5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
X |
7 |
11 |
1 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 2 for 4, HR, 2 runs
Ben Schmucker 3 for 4, run, RBI
Keaton Haack 1 for 3, 2 RBI
Jackson Bellenkes 1 for 3, 2 run HR
Nick Mahaffey 2 for 3
5/9 - Vikings take Tournament Championship over Bobcats
Northwest erased an early 3-0 deficit and defeated the Glenn Bobcats 7-4 to capture the Piedmont Triad 4A conference tournament championship. The Vikings, now 17-9, will host South Mecklenburg in the first round of the state playoffs on either Thursday or Friday night.
The Vikings found themselves down three after the first inning, stranding two runners in the top of the first and yielding runs in the bottom.
Northwest would quickly answer tying the score in the top of the second.
Jackson Bellenkes led the inning off with a hit. Nick Mahaffey was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Bellenkes was erased on a bunt attempt. The Vikings would quickly have first and second again when Victor Dilla was hit by a pitch. Steven Plante followed with a single to load the bases. Sanders Kuxhausen followed Plante with a fielders choice to score Mahaffey and Northwest first run of the game.
Adam Swim followed with a single to score Dilla and further cut the Bobcat lead. Chris Corbett's single then scored Kuxhausen to tie the game.
Keaton Haack doubled down the right field line with one out in the third. Two batters later, Mahaffey drove in Haack with a single to left and put Northwest up for good at 4-3.
With one out in the fifth, Haack and Bellenkes record back to back hits to put runners on first and second. Two batter later, Dilla doubled to right center to score Haack and push the Viking lead to 5-3.
Kuxhausen led off the sixth reaching third on a three base error by the Bobcat center fielder. With one out, Corbett hit a sacrifice fly to score Kuxhausen and extend the Northwest lead to 6-3.
The Vikings would add one insurance run in the seventh. Bellenkes lead off the inning reaching on an error. Mahaffey followed with a bunt hit passed the pitcher to put runners on first and second. Dilla then sacrificed bunted Bellenkes and Mahaffey to second and third. Plante then executed an RBI safety squeeze to score Bellenkes and give the Vikings a 7-3 cushion.
After the shakey first inning on the mound, Haack settled down and pitched into the sixth for his seventh win of the year. Haack allowed only three hits, two in the first and one in the sixth, striking out five on the night. Haack gave way to Swim in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out. Swim coaxed a ground ball to Kuxhausen who flipped to Matt Bond for one who threw to first to Derek Henley to complete the double play and get out of the inning. Swim recorded the final three outs in the seventh on two strike outs for his sixth save of the year.
Haack also helped his cause with two great defensive plays on the night. Haack hit the Bobcat batter to start the third inning. The Bobcats excuted a sacrifice bunt and the runner from first headed to third. Haack initially forgot to cover third as Plante fielded on the play, but recovered, caught the ball from Duncan Everett on the fly and made a diving tag to get the Bobcat runner out at third. Haack walked the leadoff batter in the fourth and he moved to second on a Swim pick off attempt at first. The next play, Haack wheeled to Kuxhausen and picked the Bobcat runner off second to prevent any Bobcat rally in that inning.
| NW | 0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
12 |
2 |
|
| G | 3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
STATS:
Adam Swim 2 for 4, RBI
Chris Corbett 1 for 2, 2 RBI
Keaton Haack 2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs
Jackson Bellenkes 2 for 4, run
Nick Mahaffey 2 for 3, run, RBI
Victor Dilla 1 for 2, 2B, run, RBI
Steven Plante 1 for 2, RBI
5/9 - Vikings battle way to tournament championship game
Northwest broke a 4 game losing streak to Southwest Guilford, beating the Cowboys 5-2 in the semifinals of the Piedmont Triad 4A conference tournament. The Vikings will take on the Glenn Bobcats, 17-7 winners over East Forsyth in the other semifinal, in the tournament championship Monday night at 7:00 at Glenn.
Duncan Everett pitched six strong innings to pick up his sixth win of the year for the Vikings. Everett allowed only two hits, strking out eight and walked three. Adam Swim pitched around a hit batsman and a walk to shut the door in the seventh and pick up his fifth save of the year.
The offense collected 13 hits included four players, Sanders Kuxhausen, Swim, Everett and Haack with two hits a piece.
Swim reached via a single in the top of the first with one out. Chris Corbett was then hit by a pitch and Everett followed with a single to load the bases. A Haack ground out give Northwest the lead at 1 after the half inning.
Kuxhausen led off the third with a single. He stole second by beating the first baseman throw on a pitcher pick off attempt to get in scoring position. Chris Corbett then singled Kuxhausen to third. Two batter later with two outs, Haack hit the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Kuxhausen and give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
With one out and up 2-1 in the top of the sixth, four straight Vikings singled to score two runs. Victor Dilla got it started with an opposite field single. Steven Plante then followed with an infield single to move runners to first and second. Kuxhausen then singled home Matt Bond, running for Dilla to push the Northwest lead to 3-1. Plante and Kuxhausen moved to third and second on the throw to the plate. Swim then singled home Plante to give the Vikings a 3-1 lead. Kuxhausen tried to score on the play but a perfect throw got him at the plate.
Up two in the seventh, Northwest would tack on an insurance run on three consecutive hits. Haack got hit started with his second hit of the game.
Jackson Bellenkes then followed with a single to move Haack to second.
Haack stole third, just before Nick Mahaffey hit a double down the third base line to score him and move Bellenkes to third. Southwest got out of the jam with runners on second and third, but the Vikings were up 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The win improved Northwest to 16-9 on the season.
| NW | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
1 |
|
| SW | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 2 for 3, run, RBI
Adam Swim 2 for 3, run, RBI
Duncan Everett 6 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 8 K's, 3 BB
2 for 4
Keaton Haack 2 for 4, run, 2 RBI
Nick Mahaffey 1 for 4 2B, RBI
5/4 - Haack fire balls, timely hitting lead NW to tourney win
Keaton Haack pitched a complete game one hit shutout and Nick Mahaffey and Chris Corbett each hit home runs to lead Northwest to an 8-0 first round victory in the Piedmont Triad 4A conference baseball tournament. The win moves the Vikings to 15-9 on the year and sets up a date with Southwest Guilford in the semifinals Friday afternoon at 5:00 at Glenn High School.
Haack struck out 16 and allowed only three baserunners on the evening. In the fourth the Parkland leadoff hitter reached on a two base error. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Haack struck out the next hitter, the third batter in the lineup. Following an intentional walk,Haack struck out the next hitter to end the Mustang rally and leave runners on second and third. The next inning a Mustang reached on an infield hit with one out.
The inning ended on a strike them out throw them out with Adam Swim throwing out the runner at second.
After three slow innings at the plate, the Vikings finally came alive in the fourth. Haack lead off the inning with a double. Jackson Bellenkes then moved Haack to third on a ground out. Mahaffey then singled hard back up the middle to score Haack and give Northwest a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings broke it open with a five run fifth. Swim led off the inning with a single. Chris Corbett then reached on an error that moved Swim's courtesy runner, Steven Plante, to third. Haack then singled to right center to score Plante and give Northwest a 2-0 lead. Bellenkes followed Haack with a walk to load the bases. Mahaffey then hit a blast to left center for a grand slam and a 6-0 Viking lead.
With one out in the sixth, Adam Swim walked. Corbett followed with a homer to left, finishing out the scoring at 8.
| WS-P | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
| NW | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
X |
8 |
9 |
1 |
STATS:
Keaton Haack: CG, 16 K's, 1 hit, 1 IBB
2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs, RBI
Chris Corbett 2 for 4, HR, 2 runs 2 RBII
Adam Swim 2 for 3, 2 runs
Nick Mahaffey 2 for 3, HR, run, 5 RBI
5/2 - Mustangs stun Vikings 8-5
Winston Salem Parkland used three big innings and timely defense and Northwest left 10 runners on base in a 8-5 win for the Mustangs. The Vikings finish the regular season at 14-9, 7-5 and tied for third in the Piedmont Triad 4A conference. Northwest will play the same Parkland Mustangs Wednesday at 7:00 at Northwest in the first round of the conference tournament.
Down 2-0 after the top of the first, Northwest would scrap a run in the first and second innings to tie the game at 2. Sanders Kuxhausen led off the night with a double. Kuxhausen moved to third on an error and scored on a Chris Corbett ground out RBI. The Vikings loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second on hits by Jackson Bellenkes and Nick Mahaffey and an Mustang error. Derek Henley's sacrifice fly scored Bellenekes and tied the game at two. Kuxhausen then hit a screamer that the Parkland second basemen snagged, touched second and threw to first to end the inning.
Down 8-2 in the fifth, Kuxhausen led the inning off with a double. Swim singled him to third. Chris Corbett then hit a sacrifce fly to score Kuxhausen.
Corbett brought the Vikings to 8-4 leading off the top of the seventh with a home run. Following an out, Keaton Haack, Bellenkes, Mahaffey and Victor Dilla had consective hits. Mahaffey's hit scored Haack. With the bases loaded, the Mustangs would turn their second double play of the game to end the Vikings rally and secure the 8-5 win.
The Vikings delivered 13 hits on the night, but left more than one runner in scoring position the third, sixth, and seventh innings.
| WS-P | 2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
3 |
|
| NW | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
13 |
2 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 runs
Chris Corbett 2 for 3, 2B, HR, run, 3 RBI
Jackson Bellenkes 3 for 4, run
Nick Mahaffey 2 for 3, RBI
4/30 - Vikings top Panthers 15-5 at Finch Field
Northwest jumped on the Ledford Panthers for 7 runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back en route to a 15-5 win in the 7th annual Thomasville Medical Center/Hitoms Varsity classic at Finch Field in Thomasville. The Vikings are now 14-8 on the season with one regular season game remaining, a conference game against Winston Salem Parkland at home Monday at 7:00.
The Vikings scored seven runs on three hits and five walks in the top of the first. Sanders Kuxhausen reached on a walk and later scored on a wild pitch in the inning. Chris Corbett singled to follow Kuxhausen and later scored on an Adam Swim ground out. Duncan Everett, who walked, scored on Nick Mahaffey's walk. Keaton Haack and Jackson Bellenkes who both walked, scored on a Victor Dilla double down the left field later. Mahaffey then scored on a Kuxhausen single. The shortstop throw was wide at first, to allow Dilla to score and give the Vikings the 7-0 lead.
The Panthers would plate three in the bottom of the first, but Northwest quickly responded with three ni the top of the second. Ben Schmucker hit a screamer that went under the first basemen's glove to start the inning.
Everett followed with a walk. Haack then followed with a triple down the right field line to score Schmucker and Everett. Swim then hit a sacrifice fly to score Haack and give Northwest a 10-3 lead.
Haack and Swim would work together again for a run in the third. Haack reached second on a wide throw by the shortstop and moved to third on a wild pitch. Swim then singled Haack run to further the Viking lead.
Northwest would put up for more in the top of the fourth. Dilla led the inning off with a single. The bases were quickly loaded when Kuxhausen reached on an error and Schmucker walked. Derek Henley and Matt Bond followed with RBI singles. After an out, Jackson Bellenkes recorded an RBI single and Mahaffey got his second RBI of the game via a walk.
Bond picked up his first win of the year on the mound pitching four solid innings in relief of Ben Schmucker who left after the first with tightness in his arm.
| NW | 7 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
15 |
12 |
3 |
|
| L | 3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 2, 2 runs, RBI
Keaton Haack 1 for 2, 3B, 3 runs, 2 RBI
Adam Swim 1 for 2, 3 RBI
Nick Mahaffey 1 for 2, 2 RBI
Victor Dilla 2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI
4/29 - Haack propels victory for seniors over Western, 1-0
Junior Keaton Haack helped send the seniors to a win on senior night, shuting out Western Guilford 1-0. The win moved Northwest to 13-8 overall.
Haack pitched a complete game two hit shutout for his fifth win of the year. Haack, who struck out 11 on the night, only allowed base runners in three of the seven innings. His toughest inning was the third when the Hornets loaded the bases, but he struck out the number three hitter to end the inning. The Hornets had two to reach base in the seventh, but Haack again closed the door and game with a strike out.
A run in the first inning provided by Seniors Sanders Kuxhausen and Duncan Everett held up for the Vikings the rest of the game. Kuxhausen led off with a single. He moved to second on a pitcher error during a pick off attempt. With two outs, Everett then singled home Kuxhausen for the run of the game.
Before the game started, seven seniors were recognized for their contributions to the Northwest Baseball program. Six players were recognized: Kuxhausen, Everett, Ben Schmucker, Derek Henley, Steven Plante, and Nick Mahaffey as well as manager Spencer Carr.
| WG | 0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
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| NW | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
1 |
4 |
0 |
4/26 - Northwest routs East Forsyth to continue playoff push
Northwest scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 10-2 win over East Forsyth. The win moved the Vikings to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in the Piedmont Triad 4A conference. The Vikings have secured one of the top four seeds in the conference tournament and can only be held out of the playoffs if they end up fourth and a 5,6, or 7 seed team wins the conference tournament.
Duncan Everett picked up his fifth win of the year pitching six shutout innings. Everett carried a no hitter into the fifth and finished the game only allowing three hits, striking out five and walking two.
Jackson Bellenkes and Sanders Kuxhausen led the offensive attack. Bellenkes hit a three run and grand slam home run and Kuxhausen hit two doubles leading to runs in the middle innings. Chris Corbett singled with out and Everett with two outs in the first. The Eagle shortstop bobbled a ball hit by Keaton Haack and a hustling Steven Plante, running for the pitcher Everett, beat the force throw at second base to load the bases. Adam Swim followed with an RBI walk to put the Viking ahead 1-0. Bellenkes followed with an opposite field shot to give the Vikings a five run lead.
In the fourth inning, Kuxhausen hit his first double with one out. Corbett followed with a single to move Kuxhausen to third. Ben Schmucker then went with a pitch to left field for a single, driving in Kuxhausen and giving Northwest a 6-0 lead. The same three would play great baseball in the top of the sixth getting an insurance run. Kuxhausen led the inning off with his second double. Corbett then hit behind Kuxhausen, grounding out up the middle, but moving him to third. Schmucker then hit the ball back up the middle for a ground out RBI scoring Kuxhausen.
Bellenkes put the game away with his second homer to left in the top of the seventh. Haack, who reached base on an error to lead off the inning, and Swim, who walked, scored ahead of Bellenkes on the blast.
Northwest last conference game will be at home on Monday May 2 against Winston Salem Parkland at 7:00. Between then, the Vikings will celebrate senior night this Friday against Western Guilford at 7:30 and battle against Ledford Saturday at 7:00 in the 7th Annual Thomasville Medical Center/HiToms Varsity Classic at Finch Field in Thomasville.
| NW | 5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
|
| EF | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 2 for 4, 2 2B, 2 runs
Chris Corbett 2 for 4, run
Ben Schmucker 1 for 4, 2 RBI
Jackson Bellenkes 2 for 4, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Duncan Everett 6 IP, 0 runs, 3 hits, 5 K's, 2 BB
4/21 - Vikings beat Bucs, finish 3rd at Spring Break Tourney
Northwest downed defending 4A state champion Wilmington Laney 5-4 to finish 3rd in the Coastal Athletics Easter Spring Break Tournament at Ashley High School in Wilmington. Keaton Haack pitched five innings for his fourth win of the year and Adam Swim closed the door the final two innings for his fourth save. Duncan Everett and Sanders Kuxhausen led the offense with three hits a piece and knocked in the tying and go ahead runs respectively.
The Vikings jumped to a quick start in the top of the first inning. Chris Corbett and Ben Schmucker hit one out singles to get the rally started. Everett then doubled down the third base line to score Corbett and move Schmucker to third. With two outs, a Laney error scored Schmucker and Everett to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead. Laney scored a single run in the 2-5 innings to take a one run lead after five.
Nick Mahaffey led off the sixth inning with a single and moved to second on a Derek Henley sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Kuxhausen delivered a two out single to right to tie the game. Corbett then reached on an error and Schmucker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Everett then smoked a pitch in to left field for a single, driving in Kuxhausen and giving the Vikings a 5-4 lead.
Haack battled on the mound for five innings before giving way to Swim in the sixth. With the one run lead, Swim went three up three down in both the bottom of the sixth and seven innings striking out three to preserve the victory.
The win moves Northwest to 11-8 on the year. The Vikings battle at East Forsyth at 7:00 on Tuesday in a crucial Piedmont Triad 4A conference game.
The rest of the week consist of Senior night at home against rival Western Guilford on Friday at 7:30 and Ledford at 7:00 Saturday night in the 7th Annual Thomasville Medical Center/HiToms Varsity Classic at Finch Field in Thomasville.
| NW | 3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
11 |
2 |
|
| WL | 0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 3 for 4, run, RBI
Chris Corbett 2 for 4, run
Duncan Everett 3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI
4/20 - Ashley scores 15 runs in 2 innings, pounds Northwest
Wilmington Ashley bats were sizzling in a 15-4 win over Northwest in the semifinals of the Coastal Athletics Easter Spring Break Tournament at Ashley HS in Wilmington. The Screaming Eagles scored six in the first and put the Vikings away with 9 in the second on 14 hits and 4 errors to move to the championship of the tournament they host.
Ben Schmucker doubled in Sanders Kuxhausen and Chris Corbett who both singled for two runs in the third. A reach base on a strike out wild pitch, a hit batsman and a Screaming Eagle error lead to the two other Viking runs in the top of the fifth.
Northwest will play Wilmington Laney for third place in the tournament on Thursday.
| NW | 0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
| WA | 6 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
X |
15 |
14 |
1 |
STATS:
Ben Schmucker 1 for 1, 2B, 2 RBI
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 3, run
Chris Corbett 1 for 2, run
4/19 - Everett leads Vikings past Wildcats, 7-2
Duncan Everett pitched a complete game and hit a two run home run to lead Northwest past Wilmington New Hanover 7-2. The win moved the Vikings to10-7 overall and propelled them to the semifinals of the Coastal Athletic Easter Spring Break Tournament at Ashley High School in Wilmington.
Everett struck out five, walked only one and allowed seven hits in his compelte game. The last four innings, New Hanover did not have more than one base runner in any inning and only one reached second base.
The Viking scoring started in the top of the third, when Everett reached on an error to score Sanders Kuxhausen who had earlier reached on an error to tie the game at 1. Down one in the bottom of the fourth, Adam Swim lead the inning off with a single. Following two outs and down two strikes, Steven Plante delivered a double to the right center field gap to score Swim who was running on the play to tie the game at 2. Chris Corbett lead off the fifth inning with a double off the wall. Two batters later, Everett hit the first pitch he saw over the center field fence to put the Vikings up for good at 4-2. Following an out, Adam Swim walked, and Jackson Bellenkes reached on an error. Nick Mahaffey, Plante, and Kuxhausen all followed with RBI hits to put the Vikings up 7-2 a lead that would hold to the end.
| NW | 0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
11 |
1 |
|
| NH | 0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
STATS:
Chris Corbett 2 for 4, 2B, run
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 3, run, RBI
Duncan Everett 1 for 4, 2 run HR
Keaton Haack 2 for 4
Adam Swim 2 for 3, 2 runs
Nick Mahaffey 1 for 4, 2B, run
Steven Plante 2 for 3, 2B, 2 RBI
4/18 - Haack and long ball power Vikings to victory!
Keaton Haack picked up his 3rd win of the year and 4 Vikings hit home runs to lead Northwest to an 11-4 victory over Winston Salem Parkland Friday night. The win moves the Vikings to 9-7 overall and 6-4 in the Piedmont Triad 4A conference.
Sanders Kuxhausen delivered the first pitch of the game over the left field fence to get the Vikings up 1-0 early. The Parkland starting pitcher proceeded to throw 12 straight balls following the home run. He was relieved and the relief pitcher recorded a pop up, force out, and strike out to keep the game 1-0. To start the top of the second, Nick Mahaffey planted a pitch out of left to increase the Viking lead to 2-0.
That score would remain until the top of the fifth. With two outs and Ben Schmucker on second by virtue of a walk, Duncan Everett scorched a 3-0 pitch out of left field to increase the Viking lead to 4-0. Haack followed with a walk. Adam Swim then singled to right field. The ball went under the right fielders glove allowing Haack to score and moved Swim to 3rd. Northwest lead 5-0 after the inning.
With one out in the sixth, Steven Plante and Kuxhausen registered back to back walks. Chris Corbett then singled down the left field line to score Plante. Schmucker then hit a blast to right center field for a 3 run homer and giving the Vikings a comfortable 9-0 cushion.
Following a 4 run Parkland bottom of the sixth, Northwest added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Jackson Bellenkes, who led the inning of with a walk, scored on a Kuxhausen single. Plante, who had walked, scored on a bases loaded walk to pinch hitter Keiffer Teague.
Haack had an impressive outing going 5 solid innings only allowing three Parkland base runners, two by walk and one hit. He also recorded 10 strike outs on the evening.
Northwest travels to Wilmington this week to play in one of the best tournaments in the state at Ashley High School. First game is against Wilmington New Hanover at 4:30 on Tuesday. Wednesday's game time will depend on Tuesday's outcomes, but the opponent will be either Wilmington Ashley or Southern Alamance. A third game will be played on Thursday.
| NW | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
10 |
0 |
|
| WS-P | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
STATS:
Keaton Haack 5 IP, 10 K's, 2 BB, 1 hit, 0 runs
Sanders Kuxhausen 3 for 3, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Chris Corbett 1 for 4, run, RBI
Ben Schmucker 1 for 2, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI
Duncan Everett 1 for 2, HR, 2 RBI
Nick Mahaffey 1 for 3, solo HR
4/14 - Vikings hold off Tigers for tough non-conference win
Ben Schmucker and Keaton Haack used their arm and bat to help lead Northwest to a solid non conference win over the Randleman Tigers 7-5.
The win moves the Vikings to 8-7 on the season and handed the Tigers only their second loss in 15 games.
Schmucker started the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first. The Tigers answered with a run in the bottom, then the game went scoreless for three innings before the Vikings broke through again in the fifth.
Sanders Kuxhausen drew a two out walk. Chris Corbett then doubled to put runners on second and third. Schmucker was intentionally walked to load the bases. Duncan Everett then worked a walk for an RBI and a 2-1 Viking lead. Haack then followed with a grand slam blast over the right center field fence to move the Northwest lead out to 6-1. Up 6-3 in the top of the seventh, Kuxhausen reached on a wild pitch strike out to start the inning, then stole second base. Corbett then singled to drive in Kuxhausen for a much needed insurance run.
Schmucker went his longest outing of the year going 6 innings for his first victory. Schmucker struck out six, walked three and allowed six hits. Schmucker started the seventh allowing a hit, then yielded to Haack for the final three outs. Haack blew away the fourth and fifth hitters in the Tiger lineup with strikeouts to preserve the win after recording a walk, out and double from the first three hitters.
The Vikings head to Winston Salem Parkland Friday night for a Piedmont Triad 4A conference game at 7:00.
| NW | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
|
| R | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
3 |
STATS:
Chris Corbett 2 for 4, 2B, run, RBI
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 3, 2B, 2 runs
Keaton Haack 1 for 4, GS HR
Ben Schmucker 1 for 3, HR, 2 runs
4/14 - Cowboys top Vikings 2-1 in 9 innings
Southwest Guilford struck out 16 Northwest hitters and outlasted the Vikings 2-1 in a dual between two top pitchers in the Piedmont Triad 4A conference. The loss drops the Vikings to 5-4 in the conference and 7-7 overall.
Matt Orth of Southwest and Duncan Everett of Northwest each pitched outstanding baseball leaving after eight innings with the score tied at 1.
Everett allowed only three hits striking out 10 and walking 3. His only run allowed was unearned in the fourth on a fielding error. The Cowboys were able to push across a run in the bottom of the ninth on two hits, a walk and a wild pitch to secure the win.
Everett provided the only run for the Vikings with a solo shot to left field to lead off the second innings. Northwest had runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth and seventh innings, but were able to push any runs across.
| NW | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
|
| SW | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4/8 - Vikings hang first conference loss on Bobcats, 9-6
Northwest pounded out 14 hits with every person in the lineup recording at least one, Steven Plante pitched three scoreless relief innings, and Adam Swim shut the door for the save in the seventh to lead the Vikings past Glenn 9-6. The loss was the first for first place Glenn in seven Piedmont Triad 4A conference games. Northwest moves to 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
The first pitch of the night hit Sanders Kuxhausen and set the tone for the Viking offense all night. Chris Corbett followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. With one out, Duncan Everett singled home Kuxhausen to put the Vikings up 1. Two batters later, Adam Swim delivered an RBI single to end the first half inning with Northwest up 2-0.
Steven Plante drew a walk with one out in the top of the second. Plante then stole second and moved to third on a balk. Down two strikes, Kuxhausen had a great at bat earning a sacrifice fly to score Plante and put the Vikings up 3 after an inning and a half. Everett led the third inning off with a single. Keaton Haack followed with a walk. Swim then delivered a single to right field scoring Everett. The ball slipped past the right fielder to also allow Haack on the play and Swim ended up on third. The next pitch, Matt Bond, Swim's courtesy runner, scored on a wild pitch and the Northwest lead increased to 6-1.
The Bobcats would rally in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 6, but the Vikings answered quickly in the fourth. Chris Corbett led the inning off with a hit. Corbett moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Ben Schmucker's double to push the Vikings back ahead 7-6. Northwest would add another run in the sixth. Kuxhausen started the inning off with a double. A Corbett sacrifice bunt moved him to third. Schmucker then singled up the middle to score Kuxhausen and put the Vikings up by two.
Northwest would score an insurance run in the seventh. Jackson Bellenkes led the inning off with a double. Steven Plante then singled home Bond, pinch running for Bellenkes, to score the last run.
Ben Schmucker started the game and pitched two great innings before getting into some trouble in the third. Plante got the last out in the third then proceeded to keep the Bobcats off balance for three innings to earn his first win of the season. Helping the defensive cause was a Swim catcher pick off at first in the fourth and Ben Schmucker recorded an outfield assist at third to end the fifth. With one on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh Plante yielded to Swim. After giving up a single, Swim recorded to jam shot pop outs and a strike out to earn his third save of the year.
Northwest will be road warriors this week travelling to Southwest Guilford Tuesday, Randleman Wednesday and Winston Salem Parkland on Friday. The Randleman game is a 6:00 start and the other two are at 7:00.
| NW | 2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
14 |
2 |
|
| G | 0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 2, 2B, 2 runs, Sac fly RBI
Chris Corbett 1 for 1, run, sacrifice, 3 BB
Ben Schmucker 2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI
Duncan Everett 2 for 3, run, RBI
Keaton Haack 2 for 3, 2 runs
Adam Swim 3 for 4, run, 2 RBI
Jackson Bellenkes 2 for 4 2B, RBI
Steven Plante 1 for 3 run, RBI
4/7 - Everett Leads Vikings past Grimsley
Duncan Everett picked up win #3 pitching 5 2/3 innings and was a part of all five runs to lead Northwest past Grimsley 5-4. Everett struck out nine in the win.
Sanders Kuxhausen lead off the bottom of the first with a double. Two batters later, Everett doubled home Kuxhausen to put the Vikings up 1-0.
Kuxhausen led the third inning off with a walk and moved to third on a Chris Corbett single. Ben Schmucker walked to load the bases. Everett then hit into a double play, but Kuxhausen scored to push the lead to 2-0.
Down 2 in the fifth with one out, Everett curled a home run just inside the left field foul pole to give Northwest a 5-4 lead. Chris Corbett who reached on a fielders choice and Ben Schmucker who was hit by a pitch also scored on the home run.
Everett pitched out of a big jam in the fourth striking out three batters with either the bases loaded or runners on second and third to keep the Vikings close. Everett yielded to Adam Swim with two outs and two on in the bottom of the sixth. Swim coaxed a ground ball to end the rally, then went three up three down against the Whirlies 2,3,4 hitters in the seventh to earn his second save of the season.
Northwest improved to 6-6 on the season with the victory. The Vikings travel to Glenn Friday night at 7:00 in a big Piedmont Triad 4A conference game.
| G | 0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
10 |
0 |
|
| NW | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
X |
5 |
4 |
1 |
STATS:
Duncan Everett 2 for 3, 2B, 3 run HR, 4 RBI
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 1, 2B, 2 runs
Chris Corbett 1 for 3, run
4/6 - Vikings fall to Spartans in 14-12 slugfest
For 6 and 1/2 innings, Northwest was in control of Mt. Tabor taking a 12-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. However, in that inning, the Spartan bats came alive plating 8 of 9 players to bat that inning including a two run walk off homer to give them a 14-12 dramatic come from behind win over the Vikings. The loss drops Northwest to 5-6 on the year.
Back to back doubles from Sanders Kuxhausen and Chris Corbett got the offensive day started for the game and Northwest. Kuxhausen scored on Corbett's double. Corbett would move up to third on a wild pitch then scored on a Ben Schmucker sacrifice fly to put the Vikings ahead 2-0 after the half inning. In the third inning up 2-1 and with two outs, Corbett and Schmucker hit back to back homers to extend the lead to 4-1. Mt. Tabor would score one in the bottom of the third, but the Vikings would surge ahead with five in the top of the fourth.
Keaton Haack led the inning off with a home run. Adam Swim followed with a single and two batter later Jackson Bellenkes doubled to put runners on second and third. Victor Dilla then singled up the middle to score Nick Mahaffey, Swim's pinch runner. Kuxhausen walked to load the bases. Corbett then earned his third RBI of the day with a hit by pitch. Schmucker followed with a single and RBI's 3 and 4 scoring Dilla and Kuxhausen and giving Northwest a 9-2 lead. Up 9-3 in the sixth Kuxhausen drew a one out walk, then manuvered his way around the bases stealing a base and moving to third on a wild pitch. Corbett then singled home Kuxhausen for his fourth RBI of the game. In the seventh,Bellenkes reached base on an error with one out. Dilla then homered to push the Northwest lead to 12-6 heading into the last inning drama.
| NW | 2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
12 |
4 |
|
| MT | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
14 |
11 |
1 |
STATS:
Sanders Kuxhausen 1 for 3, 2B, 3 runs
Chris Corbett 3 for 4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI
Ben Schmucker 2 for 3, HR, 4 RBI
Keaton Haack 1 for 3, HR
Adam Swim 2 for 4, run
Victor Dilla 2 for 4, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI
4/4 - Vikings top Bison 10-3
Northwest pounded out 14 hits and Duncan Everett pitched 6 solid innings to lead the Vikings to a Piedmont Triad 4A win over High Point Central 10-3. The win moves the Vikings above .500 in the conference at 4-3 and are 5-5 overall.
Everett struck out ten and allowed only one walk in his six innings. After surrending a run in the first, he cruised for three innings before running in to trouble in the fifth. Five straight hits to start the inning (two being infield) allowed the Bison two runs and loaded the bases. But, Everett struck out the next hitter, then started a one two three double play to end the rally.
Six Vikings, Sanders Kuxhausen, Adam Swim, Everett, Keaton Haack, Jackson Bellenkes, and Victor Dilla, had two hits a piece to lead the offensive attack.
The Vikings first run came in the bottom of the second when Bellenkes reached on a two out error and moved to second on a wild pitch. Dilla then singled home Bellenkes to tie the game at 1.
Chris Corbett reached on an error on a hard hit ball to start the rally in the third. Ben Schmucker followed with a walk. Everett then doubled home Corbett and Schmucker to make the score 3-1. Two batters later, Swim singled home Everett courtesy runner Nick Mahaffey to extend the Vikings lead. Swim's courtesy runner Matt Bond stole second and scored on a Bellenkes single. Bellenkes moved to second on a Dilla single, then scored on a Kuxhausen double to left to push the lead to 6-1 after 3.
The fourth started innocent with two outs, then Haack reached on an infield hit. Swim then doubled scoring Haack. Following a Derek Henley hit by pitch, courtesy runner Bond scored on a Bellenkes double to move the Northwest lead to 8-1 after 4. Bond knocked in two insurance runs with a one out triple in the sixth. Haack, who doubled in the gap to start the inning and Steven Plante, who singled scored on the play.
Northwest steps away from the PT4A with games at Mt. Tabor on Monday at 6:00 and Grimsley at home at 7:00 on Wednesday. Friday the Vikings return to conference traveling to first place Glenn at 7:00.
| HPC | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
|
| NW | 0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
X |
10 |
14 |
0 |
STATS:
Duncan Everett: 6 IP, 10 K, 1 BB
2 for 4, 2B, run 2 RBI
Sanders Kuxhausen 2 for 3, 2B, RBI
Keaton Haack 2 for 4, 2B, 2 runs
Adam Swim 2 for 3, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Jackson Bellenkes 2 for 3, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Victor Dilla 2 for 2, RBI
Matt Bond 1 for 1, 3B, 2 RBI
News Archive:
- March 11
- May 2010
- May 2009