Posen pitchers chalk up 17 strikeouts in season debut
The ?K? in Viking stood for strikeouts Tuesday. Posen pitchers were impressive in their season-opening win against the Boyne Falls Loggers. Of the 18 potential outs, 17 of them came on strikeouts, in the 7-3 victory for the Vikings (1-0). Sophomore hurler Matt Ponik started and struck out eight batters and threw no-hit ball during three innings of work.
Every out during junior Jesse Romel?s stint on the mound came via a ?K.,? and lefty junior Russ Kamyszek, with the bases jammed, closed the door on the Loggers, striking out both of the batters he faced. Kamyszek picked up the save as he struck out the final batter on a 2-2 count. The only defensive putout in the field came on a popup in the first inning.
PONIK STRUCK out the side in the first two innings and whiffed seven consecutive batters. The ninth batter of the game, in the third inning, was the first base runner for Boyne, after he was hit by a pitch. Senior centerfielder J Richards scored the first run of the game after getting on with the first hit of the season for the Vikings.
Posen added two more runs, without a hit, after junior Luke Hentkowski and Richards scored in the fourth inning. Boyne trimmed
GETTING THE inning going was freshman Matt Szczerowski with his first varsity hit. Senior Josh Konieczny, in the leadoff spot, followed with a single. Two batters later, sophomore Nick Goupell walked and Ponik singled after him. There were no RBI in the game for the Vikings. Most of the Loggers? runs came on passed balls, wild pitches, or errors. With the score 7-2, Boyne rallied. After the leadoff hitter struck out, Romel walked the next four batters, which brought a run in.
Coach Pat Kowalski called on Kamyszek to close things out on the number six and seven batters, to secure the win, with the tying run at the plate. The second game of the doubleheader was not played because of inclement weather.