Riding the momentum a four-run breakout, the Vikings’ varsity baseball team topped the Aragon Dons, 8-2, Monday in its sixth straight game without a loss.
A resurgent offense has helped Paly rack up five wins and a tie since its last loss on March 19 and outscore its opponents 45-32 since then. The streak has also vaulted the Vikings (8-6-1) past Wilcox for third place in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic league.
“We’ve been getting timely hitting,” head coach Dave Jefferson said. “We’ve got great chemistry right now.”
The newfound scoring continued Monday as the Vikings strung together three straight doubles to deep left field in the second inning, adding to its one-run lead to go up, 4-0. Junior outfielder Michael Rizza started the one-out rally with a first-pitch shot to left center field that drove in junior Steven Burk.
Senior shortstop Tyger Pederson drove in Rizza and senior outfielder Michael Martin followed up with another double to bring Pederson home for Paly’s fourth run. The Vikings also got two RBIs on a single and a double from Burk and another from senior catcher Peter Abrams, who scored on senior outfielder Kevin Johnson’s base hit to left field in the sixth. The team rallied by anticipating the pitches that Aragon senior Eddie Nadel was throwing at them.
“We’re just seeing the ball really well and jumped on their fast ball,” Rizza said.
According to Jefferson, Rizza will play a role as the team shuffles its lineup to accommodate the absence of senior first baseman Will Holder, who is currently playing for a rugby club team.
“That guy [Rizza]’s been in for limited action,” Jefferson said. “He’s been working his tail off in batting practice and keeping his mouth shut and when his name is called, he gets in there and he tries his best and that’s all I ever ask.”
Jefferson attributed the team’s recent surge to increased attention in practice and a shift in the team’s attitude since starting the season 0-3.
“We been working really hard in practice and I’ve been telling them ‘You gotta be ready’. Do not show up here with the idea that you will not play today, because you will not be ready.” Jefferson said.
Paly pitcher Colin Byrne surrendered a single run to the Dons in four innings of work to get the win, only struggling with a few high pitches in the first two innings. Jefferson said that Byrne is continuing to develop as part of the Viking rotation.
“With Colin we just try to stay on the same page,” Jefferson said. “When he stays on our page, he does a great job.”
The Vikings will next play at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gunn.