Vikings come from behind, wash Wave

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 17, 2001

VIDALIA, La. – Bubba Wyles had a two-run double in a key three-run fourth inning to lead the Vidalia Vikings to a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the Cathedral Green Wave Monday at the Vidalia baseball field.

Ryan Boles pitched five innings to get the win for Vidalia (21-4), allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out five and walking four.

&uot;This was Ryan’s second start. He was erratic at times,&uot; said Vidalia head coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir.

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Doug Warshaw pitched the final two innings to pick up the save.

&uot;We really needed that (game) going into the week,&uot; Hoffpauir said. &uot;We played disciplined.&uot;

While Viking’s record-breaking senior shortstop Jarrett Hoffpauir didn’t get many opportunities at the plate – he went 0-for-1 and was walked three times, once intentionally, by Cathedral pitcher Chris Norris – Wyles and Trey White stepped up when needed. Cathedral (9-8-1) jumped out to a 2-0 in the top of the second inning on designated hitter Brent Tosspon’s two-run home run that just went over the fence in left field.

Vidalia then answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second as White’s double scored Chris Williams and White later scored on a single by Wyles.

&uot;Bubba Wyles did well in the two-hole. He was a big key,&uot; coach Hoffpauir said.

The scored remained 2-2 until the bottom of the fourth as White walked, took second on an error and scored on yet another error. After Stephen Welch reached first on a fielder’s choice and Hoffpauir walked, Wyles doubled to bring in both runners.

&uot;We had that one bad inning and that’s where we lost the game,&uot; said Cathedral head coach Ken Beesley. &uot;Once you’re out of the playoffs it’s hard to get fired up.&uot;

Cathedral got one run back in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Jim Sandel and had a chance to get back in the game with two on and one out in the top of the sixth, but both runners were stranded.

&uot;I wished we would’ve hit the ball better,&uot; Beesley said.

In the bottom of the sixth, pinch hitter Ty Eicemann hit a ground ball past first base that the first-base umpire originally called foul and then called it fair. Eicemann ended up with a double.

Cathedral assistant coach Craig Beesley argued the call, even though it was a fair ball, and was later tossed out of the game.

Vidalia hosts Block in an important District 3-2A contest at 6 p.m. today. If the Vikings win, they are the district champions. If Block wins, both teams will be tied for first place that will force a one-game playoff to determine the district championship if Vidalia beats Crowville Thursday.