Nappanee, Ind. – July 14, 2023 – Southland Vikings starter Will Moell showed why he was selected to the Northern League All-Star game as he shut down the Elkhart County Miracle on Friday enroute to a 4-1 Vikings win.
Moell carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Kayden Cain broke up the bid with a two out single through the left side of the infield.Moell responded to giving up the first Miracle hit by striking out Hunter Christunas looking for his eighth punchout of the game.
Moell finished with seven scoreless innings allowing just one hit, four walks and a hit batter while his eight strikeouts brought his season total to a league leading 45 punchouts in 41 1/3 innings.
“It feels good, especially bringing the walks down a little bit more recently,” Moell said of his performance in recent outings. “I really just try throwing right at batters and say, ‘Here’s my stuff, I dare you to hit it.’”
The Vikings led the entire game on Friday after scoring twice in the top of the first inning, including an RBI double from Caleb Rhodes to drive in Jack Fitzharris who had led off the game with a double of his own.
“It kind of sets the tone for the game when you can get an early lead,” manager Sullivan Stickann said after the game. “It gives you some breathing room and you can just trust what you’re doing. When you fall behind you sometimes need to find a different approach and just find any way that you can to get on.”
The Vikings would add another run in the third inning on an RBI single by Shemar Harris and one more in the sixth on a Lucas Pajeau RBI single to take a 4-0 lead.
Kaydon Norkus relieved Moell on the mound for the final two innings and after allowing a run in the eighth, he set down the Miracle in order to close out the ninth and put the Vikings four games above .500 for the first time this season.
The Vikings (20-16) will take their three-game winning streak to Oil City Stadium on Saturday when they take on the Northwest Indiana Oilmen (22-14). First pitch is at 7:10pm with Ty Chaney Jr. expected to start on the mound for the Vikings.
