On paper, Mascenic’s game against Hopkinton Saturday might just look like another date on the schedule, but for the Viking players, the experience should last a lifetime. Mascenic seized the opportunity to play a game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, and on Saturday morning, the Vikings piled on the team bus and headed up to the historic ballpark.
The home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown has long been regarded as the birthplace of baseball. As legend has it, Civil War general Abner Doubleday invented the game on a cow pasture in the small town back in the late 1800s. Though that theory has been debunked (a plaque tucked away in the Hall explains that a group of citizens concocted the story to ensure baseball was regarded as a purely American sport), there’s still plenty of history there.
Some of the earliest games of baseball were played on Cooperstown’s sandlot, the outfield wall a broken-down board fence and a line of ramshackle houses. Eventually, Doubleday Field was built on the plot, and the Hawks and Vikings kicked up that same dirt as they took the field.
“It was really kind of mindblowing when you looked around at the whole field,” said Mascenic second baseman TJ Hiott, “especially when you think that that field dates back to the early 1900s.”
The Vikings weren’t their sharpest that day, as they committed four errors, two of which led directly to runs. Cooper Wayrynen started the game but gave way to Travis Rautiola in the second inning after four runs had scored. Rautiola pitched the remainder of the game, allowing one run (none earned) and striking out three.
Hopkinton’s southpaw Kyle Slivera was good, not great, in his first start of the season, allowing the Vikings to score four runs of their own (three earned), all in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Daimon Gibson led off with a double; shortstop Scott Humphrey followed up with a single and then first baseman Roman Ojala was hit with a pitch to load the bases. That brought up Rautiola, who roped a double to left. Gibson scored easily, but Humphrey, hesitating slightly before rounding third, was called out at a close play at the plate.
The next man up, Wayrynen, smashed a ball top deep center that nearly got out; it didn’t quite make it, but Wayryrnen was on his horse and he galloped into third, kicking up dust as he slid in for a two-run triple that scored Rautiola and Ojala.
Catcher Drew Rines would then reach on an error that scored Wayrynen, but he’d be picked off at first to end the inning.
The Vikings loaded the bases in the fifth, but Slivera (seven Ks) got Ojala looking for the last out.
Two errors in the bottom of the fifth allowed Hopkinton to take the lead, 5-4. Mascenic pushed back in the top of the seventh, as Smith singled, Mike Phillips sacrificed pinch runner Reuben Chalke over and Chase Holombo got him to third on a single, but Humphrey grounded out and the game was over.
The Vikings shook off the loss quickly, heading back to their rustic lodgings atop one of the Hudson Valley’s rolling hills. The boys barbecued up some burgers and dogs, played a rousing game of touch football with enough touchdowns, interceptions and big hits to go around, and then played the daylight away with a wiffleball contest. It was a great chance for the Vikings to take a little time awat from home, school and even the daily routine of the baseball season.
“All year long, it’s practice, go home, the next day it’s a game,” said head coach Kevin Rines. “[This trip] is really something for the kids’ togetherness. It’s a great experience for them — win or lose.”
Sunday morning, the team headed down to the Coopertown village and visited the Baseball Hall of Fame, where the players were immersed in history, seeking out their favorite all-time players and learning a little something, too. Ojala got a look at Manny Ramirez’s pine-tar-covered bat and helmet, “Reggie” Rautiola took in the plaque of “Mr. October,” Reggie Jackson, and Jacob Goodrich tracked down some Ted Williams artifacts.
“It was really cool,” said Goodrich.
Mascenic (3-2) has a week off before returning to action on Monday when they host Pelham (1-4) at 4 p.m.
Sports Editor Ben Conant can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 226.