NORFOLK – Looking for their first home win since June 11th, the Norfolk Elkhorn Valley Bank Juniors hit the diamond for the final time at home yesterday when the welcomed Battle Warriors (Omaha Westside) for doubleheader action.

Norfolk’s bats, however, went quiet in both games, collecting just three hits in each contest as they fell 8-0 in Game One and 10-3 in Game Two.

“Westside’s a great team, so I don’t want to take anything away from them here,” co-head coach Dylan Viergutz said. “But I don’t think we did anything offensively and put enough pressure on them to make them stick out defensively.”

Norfolk had a chance early to put some damage on Westside, as after falling behind 1-0 after the top of the first, Norfolk drew a pair of walks to place runenrs on first and second in the bottom of the same inning, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Westside would tack on another run in the top of the third, but back-to-back singles by Jay Anderson and Landon Viergutz by Norfolk would place runners on with no outs in the bottom of the third. However, an infield fly, a strikeout, and pickoff at second would end the Norfolk threat.

After both teams went scorless over the next two innings, Westside would tack on two runs in the fifth via an error and single before adding another four runs in the sixth with a double and two passed balls.

Quiet bats and mistakes would haunt Norfolk again in the second game, as after starting pitcher Aidan Phillips worked out of jams in the first and second innings, Westside pounded out two singles, two doubles and a triple to score four runs in the top of the thrid.

Norfolk would again build a threat after Viergutz was hit by a pitch and Maddox Magnussen drew a walk to start the inning, but only one run would come across when Carter Walnofer grounded out to short, scoring Viergutz on the play.

Westside would get that run back in the top of the thrid thanks to a one-out grounder to short before tacking two more on with a single to center, taking a 7-1 lead in the process.

Needing runs, Norfolk would get a couple back in the bottom of the fifth. After a strikeout by Anderson and a Viergutz walk followed by a stolen base, Magnussen would produce the biggest hit of either game for Norfolk, a deep, line drive double to center, scoring Viergutz and cutting the deficit to 7-2.

Norfolk would tack on one more run with a Walnofer sac fly to left center, but a pop out by James Lanman would leave runners on first and second and limit the damage Norfolk would be able to do.

Westside would not take long to get those runs back, as after a groundout to open the sixth, Westide would collect four straight singles, a walk and a sac fly to score three runs and stretch their lead to 10-3.

Throughout both games, Norfolk defense allowed six errors, five hit batters, and a wild pitch.

“I don’t know the last time we played a one or two error baseball, as its been a consistent three to four errors a game,” Viergutz said. “It’s kind of funny because we’ll kind of bott the routine runs, but if you really watch the game, we’ll make some pretty tough defensive plays as well. So, we make the tough plays, but I think someitmes we just get too caught up in some of the routine ones.”

Norfolk will have a very quick turnaround as they head to South Sioux City for a 5 p.m. contest tonight, looking to build momentum with area district play looming just a few weeks away.

“Every game we’ve played so far is a bounce back game,” Viergutz said. “It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing; I just want to see us hit the ball a little better and get after it defensively.”