Crown Point, Ind. – July 16, 2023 – The Southland Vikings picked up their first win over the Lake County Corn Dogs this season as they won a wild 16-13 game on Sunday at Legacy Field.
The game was a pitching duel in the first half before the Corn Dogs broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
The teams would then go on to score at least one run in every half inning for the rest of the game.
Jacob Cook started on the mound for the Vikings and was charged with two runs in 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
The Corn Dogs went on to score three runs total in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Vikings had tied the game at one in the top half of the inning.
The Vikings struck back with four runs of their own in the top of the seventh as they hit four doubles in the inning to take a 5-4 lead, but the Corn Dogs once again put up a three spot to take the lead right back at 7-5.
In the eighth inning, Matt Merk hit a one out double and came around to score on an RBI single from Charlie Schau with two outs.
Another single and a walk loaded the bases for the Vikings and prompted a pitching change. The Vikings then took advantage of wildness from the new arm Gabe Stout as four runs scored on wild pitches in the inning to give the Vikings a 10-7 lead.
The game would continue to go back and forth as the Corn Dogs once again answered back and tied the game in the bottom of the frame with the help of a two-run homer from Tyler Schultz and the score was 10-10 heading into the ninth.
Jaylon Nauden led off the ninth for the Vikings with a single and then Merk hit his first homerun of the season with a go ahead two-run shot to left to give the Vikings a lead they would not relinquish.
“He’s just an absolute workhorse,” manager Sullivan Stickann said of his All-Star catcher who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and the homerun. “I love hiding him in the bottom of the lineup because it gives the bottom of the order some resurgence and there are usually some guys on for him there too. Nothing but good things to say about him as he just keeps producing.”
The Vikings would add important insurance runs in the ninth as they put up six runs to take a 16-10 lead.
Still, the Corn Dogs would not go down quietly as they scored three runs for the fourth consecutive inning and had the tying run on deck before Stephen Schwartz induced a game ending groundout to third to pick up the win in his first appearance since June 2.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Schwartz said of returning to the mound. “Anytime you get a chance to pitch on the mound it’s exhilarating. I did have a six run lead and that did dwindle down, but I still got the job done and it was fun to be out there for the first time in a long time.”
The Vikings had a season high 18 hits off of six different Corn Dogs pitchers as they snapped a five-game losing streak against the Corn Dogs this season. Charlie Schau and Michael Carrano each had four hits in the game.
“It’s the best experience you could ask for,” Schau said of participating in a back and forth, high scoring game. “To come out here and have everyone compete every single inning instead of killing someone 10-0. Competing is what makes baseball fun…Close games that are up and down are fun because you don’t know what way it’s going to go.”
The Vikings head into the All-Star Break in third place in the Northern League with a 21-17 record.
“I think our best baseball is still ahead of us,” Stickann said. “I’m very happy with where we’re at.”
The All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at Oil City Stadium with first pitch at 7:10pm. Matt Merk, Jack Fitzharris, Nolan Vlcek, Will Moell and Jorgie Vazquez will all represent the Vikings in the game.
The Vikings will then return to action on Thursday, July 20 when they host the Corn Dogs at Dowling Park. First pitch is at 5pm.
