Sports : Vikings split with Benton, improve to 16-11

With two weeks left in the regular season, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings baseball team is 16-11 and hoping to keep improving as they seek to return to the State Tournament.

Tyler Rippel, who pitched for the Vikes at State last year, held Benton Community scoreless in the first of two games on Monday. The Vikings won 9-0, as Rippel allowed four hits and three walks in pitching all seven innings. He struck out seven batters.

Scottie Wirth’s two-run double gave the Vikings the lead for good in the second inning. Nathan Struve went 3-for-3 , with two runs scored and two RBI. The Vikings had 11 hits in the game.

The nightcap included several errors by both teams, and only a total of five earned runs in a 7-4 Bobcat win. Viking pitchers also allowed 10 bases on balls.

The Vikings host Western Dubuque tonight.

New artificial turf awaits in Independence

Monday also was a big night for one of the Vikings’ nearby rivals. Independence held a dedication ceremony for its new artificial field turf baseball field. The Vikings will play on that surface for the first time July 8. While the Vikings have not encountered field turf on any other high school field, they have played on it at Waverly-Shell Rock, which uses the Wartburg baseball field for its home games.

Those familiar with the field turf says the ball moves faster through the infield than on natural grass, although there are less bad hops.

Post-season rivals announced

Although the District play-off schedule has not yet been announced, the Vikings know which teams they will have to face to get to State.

The Vikings are in Class 3A District 7, along with Marion, Benton and Center Point-Urbana. The District 7 champ will play the champ of District 8, which includes Davenport Assumption, Central DeWitt, Maquoketa and C.R. Xavier.

See the VS schedule/score/stats page HERE.

See more photos of Monday's games HERE.