RICHMOND — Marmaton Valley High’s Wildcats dropped their 2010 season-opening doubleheader Thursday.
The Wildcats lost 12-2 in five innings to host Central Heights High’s Vikings. The Vikings rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Marmaton Valley 4-3 in the second game.
“We started off great in the first game. Our pitchers started struggling late and we made a few errors that let the game slip away,” said Derek Scharff, MVHS head coach.
“We got a great pitching performance from Ethan Ericson in the second game. We made a couple costly errors in the field.”
The only extra-base hit the Wildcats had in two games was a two-run home run by Ericson in the first contest. Tanner Lewis, Nathan Whitcomb, Cole Becker and Logan Booth each had a single in that game.
Lewis took the pitching loss, working 31⁄3 innings and giving up six runs on five hits, three walks and one hit batter. He struck out one.
Becker and Taylor Lhuillier each pitched two-thirds of an inning. Becker allowed three runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Lhuillier gave up three runs on one hit and two walks with one strikeout.
Ericson threw 61⁄3 innings for the loss in the second game. He surrendered four runs on six hits, three walks and one hit batter. He struck out seven.
Marmaton Valley scored three runs in the third for a 3-0 lead. Central Heights chipped away with a run in the fourth and one in the fifth.
The Vikings pushed across two runs in their final at-bat to win the game.
Lewis had two base hits for the Wildcats. Hitting a single each were Ericson, Becker, Jimmy Frye, Gage Stewart and Jared Kale.
“We made contact and put the ball in play but right at the defense. I’m pleased at where we are with our young team,” Scharff said.
He said the Wildcats will work on improving offensively and defensively.
Monday the Wildcats host St. Paul in Three Rivers League play in Moran.
Vikings defeat MVHS Wildcats
