LYNDON - After rain postponed Tuesday's Opening Day games for Lyndon Institute's baseball and softball teams, the season openers were pushed back to Wednesday Night. Both the baseball and softball teams hosted the North Country Falcons to kick off the season.
The baseball game proved to be a pitcher's duel right from the start, as both teams bounced into plenty of ground-outs.
Lyndon Institute's starting pitcher Davis Guyer ran into a bit of trouble in the 4th inning when he walked three batters to load the bases. After a visit from his catcher, Guyer was able to buckle down and induce a ground-out to end the inning.
The Vikings answered offensively, with a walk and two singles to load the bases with nobody out. The next batter would then line out to third base, leading to the game's most controversial call. The North Country third baseman dove to third base after making the catch, but tagged the base with his bare hand rather than his glove hand. Even though the third baseman beat the Lyndon runner to the base, the runner was called safe because of the bare-handed tag. North Country argued, but to no avail.
Lyndon then grounded into an inning-ending double play, leaving both teams still scoreless.
Davis Guyer would then strike out the side in the top of the 5th, and it seemed the Vikings had the momentum in their favor. The Vikings would again load the bases with nobody out, but a pop-up and another inning-ending double play kept Lyndon Institute out of the runs column.
North Country would then jump ahead in the top of the 6th. The lead-off hitter walked, and then stole second base. A ground ball to the Viking's shortstop resulted in a wild throw to first, allowing the Falcon's to score the game's first run.
The Vikings dug deep, and rallied in the bottom of the 7th. Jordan Bergeron led off for the Vikings, and walked. The next hitter would bunt, and reach first base. This was followed by a ground ball where the Falcon's made the out at second, but the hitter beat the throw to first, and the lead runner advanced to third. Another ground ball allowed the Viking's to tie the game at 1, and this game headed to extra innings.
North Country sent three men to the plate, all retired in order by the Vikings. The Vikings would then double to right with one out, sending Noah Burke to the plate with the lead runner in scoring position. Burke crushed the ball to right field, driving in Colin Deluca, the game's winning run.
After a walk-off single in his first varsity game, Sophomore Noah Burke had this to say. "Going into the batter's box, you're thinking 'Oh damn why is this me?' I don't want to be that one guy to strike out, and to actually make the hit, it's incredible."
The softball season also kicked off last night, with another match-up between Lyndon Institute and North Country. This one wasn't as close, as the Vikings scored early and often.
Emily Doty started things off with an RBI triple in the second. The Vikings would never look back, thanks in part to an impressive pitching performance by Senior Kelsey Croft.
In her first varsity start, Croft struck out twelve North Country batters, allowing only two hits and one run.
Excited to start the season off on a positive note, Croft said "I think it's looking quite well, because last year we made it to the state championship and this team... I'm feeling very confident with."
The baseball and softball teams continue their seasons this weekend, as both team's play host to the Northfield Marauders. Both games are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. To see the rest of the baseball and softball schedules, visit Lyndon Institute's Athletics page, and click on the PDF.