Boys baseball bests Walter Johnson 5–1 in second round of the playoffs

Shortstop Matt Ryan attempts to throw a runner out in the baseball team’s 5–1 second round playoff win against the Walter Johnsons Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Joey Sussman.

By Gabe Schaner

The boys baseball team (14–2) outlasted the Walter Johnson Wildcats (11–8) 5–1 Saturday to move on to the section finals of the playoffs.

After no scoring through three innings, the fourth inning brought most of the game’s runs. WJ pitcher Noah Cerrud-Osmer scored on an error by shortstop Matt Ryan to allow WJ to take a 1–0 lead in the top of the fourth. However, the Vikes responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning when catcher Jack Ryan scored on an error by WJ second baseman Ryan Lynch. First baseman Weston Weilminster broke the tie on an RBI single that scored designated hitter Matt Dickstein to put the Vikes ahead 2–1. The team would go on to score two more runs in the inning to take a 4–1 lead heading into the fifth inning.   

The Vikes managed to score one more run, but pitcher Zach Werkman kept WJ off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. Werkman pitched a complete game with three strikeouts to propel the Vikes to a win.

“Everybody was really amped up and just ready to get into it,” left fielder Sam Mermelstein said. “As a team, collectively, I think we played really well defensively.”

The Vikes’ next game will take place on Tuesday, May 14 against the B–CC Barons (16–6) at home at 7 p.m.