How badly did Mascenic beat Hinsdale on Thursday? So badly that senior first baseman Roman Ojala came in to close out the game on the mound. Ojala struck out the side in his varsity pitching debut, though he may have approached his pitch count for the week – and maybe for his career.
The Vikings jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first and then batted around twice in the second, scoring 14 runs. The final score was 20-1 Mascenic.
Ojala, Daimon Gibson and Cooper Wayrynen each drove in two runs, while Mike Phillips and TJ Hiott drove in three apiece. Ojala also had two stolen bases. Wayrynen got the pitching win, striking out three in two innings of work in the mercifully shortened game.
The Vikings had little time to celebrate their win, as they would lose a heartbreaker on Friday. Mascenic took the lead over Raymond in the fourth and extended it in the sixth, but the Rams would knock in a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to win 7-6. Wayrynen had three RBI and a triple.
Mascenic bounced back Saturday, making the most of a long bus ride to Berlin with a 10-0 win. Scott Humphrey got the win. Travis Rautiola and Gibson had two RBI each.
Mascenic (5-3) was set to face Hinsdale again Monday night after press time. The Vikings travel to Campbell Wednesday at 4 p.m.