NORFOLK – Errors, a slow start and missed opportunites late in the game.
Doing one of these things can hurt a teams chances of winning, and that’s exactly what happened to Norfolk Eklhorn Valley Bank in their contest yesterday with Superior Bingo (Lincoln North Star).
After a slow start, Norfolk had a chance to capitalize with multiple baserunners in the final two innings, but were unable to so do. Combine that with six errors, and you get the result of a 5-2 loss for the team’s fifth straight defeat.
“We came out flat in the first four innings on offense and had too many errors,” co-head coach Dylan Viergutz said. “That many errors is just never going to win you a baseball game.”
Even with the errors, Norfolk’s defense was able to create plays in a pair of double plays along with two throw outs at home, one of them coming in the form of a rundown in the seventh inning.
After Superior Bingo would get on the board in the top of the first and tack on another in the top of the fourth, Norfolk would cut the defecit in half when Maddox Magnussen would produce the team’s lone RBI when he grounded out to third, allowing Landon Viergutz to score on the play.
Superior Bingo, however, would respond in the top of the fifth thanks to a passed ball and an RBI single by Nate Jackson.
Norfolk’s offense would try to get something going late, as Magnussen came across thanks to a balk by Superior Bingo’s Logan Murphy.
Following the balk score, Norfolk would produce their biggest threat in the game with the bases loaded and two outs, but a strikeout by Chris Schwede would see that threat come to an end.
After Superior Bingo tack on an inscurance run in the top of the seventh, Norfolk needed to score three to tie the game or four to come out with the walk-off win.
Easton Hughes would start the inning off with a foul pop out to first base before Viergutz would reach on an error and Magnussen on a single, putting runners on first and second with one out and the tying run at the plate. However, Norfolk would not be able to get any closer, as a line out by Carter Walnofer and a strikeout by Caleb Carlson would end the threat and the game in favor of Superior Bingo.
“One of the things we touched on in the huddle is sixth inning, two outs, bases loaded…it’s tough, but good teams come through in that spot,” Viergutz said. “Even though we started out flat, it’s always important to finish strong. We play seven innings for a reason.”
Norfolk will look to bounce back and snap their five-game skid this weekend when they open the Hastings Tournament with North Platte on Friday.
Even with the skid, Viergutz believes they’re still in a really good spot with just under weeks of the regular seaosn left.
“I don’t want to make too many adjustments and try to fix everything at once,” Viergutz said. “We just need to keep swinging the bats, come together, stay close and stay family like. I think that’s the biggest thing for us.”