Viks stage dramatic comebacks, throw no-hitter against Bulldogs

March 29, 2023 — Siuslaw and Creswell opened the Mountain Valley Conference season with a three game series last week that included a single game at Creswell on March 21, followed by a doubleheader two days later on March 21.

All three games were memorable wins for SHS; two required dramatic comebacks by the Vikings and in the other sophomore Joel Sissel put together one of the most dynamic pitching performances by a Siuslaw athlete in years.

For game one the Viks headed to the valley for their game against the Bulldogs and their debut in their new league.

Creswell got up early, building a 8-2 lead going into the top of the 4th inning. The Viks managed to plate two more runs to tighten things up 8-4 but the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the 4th with four more runs of their own increasing their lead to 12-4.

As teams that play the Vikings this year are learning quickly, no lead is safe with this team.

Three more Siuslaw runs in the top of the 5th made the game 12-7.

Neither team would score in the 6th.

Sophomore Max Reynolds singled to start the 7th. Next freshman Jordan Pitcher walked.

After advancing to third on a passed ball Reynolds would score on another passed ball. 12-8 was the score.

A balk by the Bulldog pitcher puts another run across the plate to make it 12-9.

Senior Noah Dotson came to the plate and put the ball in play. An error by the Bulldog first baseman allows two more runs to score. That made the score 12-11.

After that, junior Andrew Jensen-Norman doubled in the tying and leading run and before Creswell fans could catch their breath their team was down 13-12.

Zak Niles came in to pitch with two outs in the 3rd inning and pitched great, especially when the Bulldogs were up for their last outs in the bottom of the 7th.

After the tying run reached on an error to start the inning Niles settled down and retired the next three Bulldogs to seal the comeback 13-12 win for the Vikings.

The sophomore pitcher only gave up one hit and one earned run while striking out 6 over 4 ⅔ innings pitched to earn the win.

Highlights at the plate include Jensen-Norman who was 2-4 with 3 RBI and a run and Reynolds who was 2-5 with 3 runs.

Three days later, on March 24 Creswell came to Jiggs Dodson field for a league doubleheader with Siuslaw.

Sophomore Joel Sissel started on the mound for the Viks and had a pitching performance for the ages. In 4 ⅔ innings pitched he struck out 9 while allowing no-hits and walking just 2.

The Viks built a 16-0 lead for Sissel and he was cruising but SHS Coach Tom Shinn was forced to pull him just one out away from completing his no-hitter because he had reached the maximum amount of pitches he was allowed to throw in one game.

Niles came in to face the last batter and quickly struck him out to seal another win and the first no-hitter thrown by Viking pitchers in recent memory.

Dotson was 2-2 at the plate with 2 runs. Pitcher and Reynolds each scored 4 runs for Siuslaw.

After the no-hitter and a short break the teams took the field again for game two of the doubleheader.

Again Creswell built a big lead, 7-2, and again the Viks would come back. SHS scored 7 runs in the 6th inning and 5 in the 7th to bring home a 14-7 win over the Bulldogs and a sweep of the three-game series between the two teams.

Jensen-Norman was 2-4 with a run. Reynolds picked up 2 more hits in 5 at bats. Sissel scored 3 runs.

Junior Mathias Wilson pitched the middle 3 innings to earn the win for Siuslaw, allowing just 2 hits and one earned run while striking out 6.

The win puts Siuslaw in first place early in the league season at 3-0 and 5-1 overall. The team had a three game road trip to Klamath Falls scheduled for spring break that was canceled because of snow.

The team is hoping to find opponents to make up for those missed games, according to Siuslaw A.D. Chris Johnson.

Next up is a non league game on Saturday, April 1 against Coquille. First pitch is 12:30 p.m.