Sports

“ONE! ONE! ONE!” Vinton-Shellsburg catcher Rachel Clemens says she was not thinking double play as she stood with her foot on home plate, waiting for the throw from pitcher Maddie Cornell. The Vikettes were hanging on to a one-run lead when Benton Community loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning and nobody out. Cornell had just struck out the Bobcat catcher; the next batter hit a bouncer back to the Vikette pitcher.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Viking baseball team ended its regular season with a Parents' Night sweep of Union, 8-4 and 9-6. In the opener, a four-run fourth inning doubled the Vikings run tally, and pitcher Luke Moen held the Knights to three earned runs over six innings. Chase Overton came on in the seventh and completed the game. Senior Josh Ferguson led the offense with four hits and three RBI in the opener.

Cayden Carter proved patience is a virtue. Carter remained committed to the high groove and took advantage of a late restart to edge Richie Gustin in the 19th annual Hogan Memorial Sunday at Benton County Speedway.  Gustin led much of the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified 40-lapper, but a late caution allowed Carter to challenge for the lead as the white flag waved.

A driver who was born the year Dick Hogan died has won the 19th annual Hogan Memorial modified feature race. Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa, age 18, surged to first place on the last of the race's 40 laps, finishing ahead of Richie Gustin, who had led most of the race. Scott Hogan finished third in the event that honors his late parents, Dick and Janet.

After five innings of nearly perfect defense helped them to a 3-2 lead over Benton Community, three consecutive sixth-inning miscues by the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes loaded the bases in the regional final at Benton Community. With Bobcats on all three bases and nobody out, Vikette pitcher Maddie Cornell faced Bobcat catcher Emily Walton, whose two-run homer during her previous at-bat in the fourth inning had tied the game.

Senior pitcher Maddie Cornell, with solid defense behind her, kept Marion from mounting any serious scoring threat, and junior RBI record-setter Ashley McKenna’s 3-run home run provided the big boost as Vinton-Shellsburg defeated Marion 13-0 in the Regional opener. The Vikettes advance to play Benton Community in Van Horne on Saturday. “We’re going to have to play our best to beat Benton,” said coach Bari Parrott.

The 2013 Football season is rapidly approaching and Coach Womochil is excited about the enthusiasm the athletes have shown over the summer.  Mark your calendar for these upcoming dates: July 24-26- Central College Team Football Camp (Sophomore & Varsity teams) August 4- Hog Roast Kickoff for grades 9-12 and families                    Vinton Skate Center (see attachment) August 5-7- Youth Viking Football Camp (Grades 4-8)                        8:00AM - 10:00AM (Cost $30) August 5-9-  HS Viking Football Camp (Grades 9-12)                         5:30PM-8:00PM (Cost $30) August 9-10- Team Camp-out (Grades 9-12) August 12- First official day of practice (Grades 9-12) August 19 & 20 - MS equipment distribution (Grades 7&8) August 21 - First day of MS practice August 23- Fall Sports Blowout - Introduction of all fall athletes (Grades 7-12 and Metro Youth FB) & HS Football scrimmage                      Karr Athletic Complex - 5:00 pm August 30- Beat Benton! All camp forms are available from Coach Womochil in the high school weight room on M, W, F 6:30-8:00AM.

Free Youth Soccer Camp offered again this year sponsored by First Baptist Church of Vinton. Open to ages 4-12. July 15-18, 6-8 pm. All youth must have a registration form signed by a parent or guardian to participate. To register: call 472-3881, emailvintonfirstbaptist@yahoo.com, or visit the website to print a registration form at www.

Once again, Vinton area residents have helped sponsor a team in the Prime Time Basketball League. This year, the Greater Iowa Financial Group/Vinton Merchants team, coached by Kevin Sanders, includes U of Iowa players Devyn Marble and Josh Oglesby, as well as former Benton Community player Nick Fisher. This is the sixth year that Vinton residents, led by Kent Stufflebeam, have sponsored a team in the Prime Time League.

After a week of strong pitching performances against Marion, Center Point-Urbana and Anamosa, Viking hurlers struggled during Monday’s home contest vs. Oelwein. V-S allowed 14 walks in seven innings as the Huskies won, 14-5. Freshman pitchers Tyler Rippel and Austin Bohnsack saw action against the Huskies. Rippel allowed one earned run in 2 1/3 innings while Bohnsack entered the game in the seventh, giving up no earned runs.