Nappanee, Ind. – June 11, 2023 – With only 11 players available for the game, the Southland Vikings withstood a late rally from the Elkhart County Miracle on a rainy Sunday afternoon enroute to a 12-7 win.  

Playing at Elkhart County for the second time in three games, the Vikings continued to pound Miracle pitching, scoring double digit runs for the third time in three games against the Miracle.  

On the mound, Will Moell (1-0) picked up his first decision in his third start, tossing six innings of two hit ball allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out ten and working around five walks.  

The Vikings seemed to be on their way to another blow out win over the Miracle after a four run fifth inning gave them a 7-1 lead, but the Miracle refused to go away. Elkhart County chipped away with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and then really began to rally in the eighth.  

With one out in the bottom of the eighth and the Vikings up 8-3, the Miracle loaded the bases with a pair of hits sandwiched around a walk. Back-to-back bases loaded walks followed to pull the Miracle back to within three and then back-to-back RBI singles made it an 8-7 Vikings lead.

This led to one of the biggest moments in the game with the bases still loaded and only one out in a one run game. Shortstop Jack Fitzharris helped keep the Vikings in front by catching a soft line drive in shallow left field and then firing the ball to Collin Small at second base to turn an inning ending double play.  

“As soon as [the eighth inning] ended, I was a little bit worried about what I was going to do next,” Vikings manager Sullivan Stickann said after the Miracle had pulled within a run and the Vikings were out of bench players. “Then Collin Small put the team on his back emotionally and it was awesome. He got the guys all fired up and stepped up as a leader in a huge moment. Definitely one of the biggest moments of the season so far.”

With the momentum shifted back to the Vikings, they answered back with four runs of their own in the top of the ninth before Ty Chaney Jr. came in and worked a scoreless bottom half to secure the 12-7 win.    

Up next for the Vikings (6-5) is another meeting with the Miracle (4-7) as Elkhart County visits Dowling Park for the first time on Monday. First pitch is at 5pm ct.