Sports : Vikings one win away from returning to State Baseball Tournament

Tanner Davis (2B) tosses to Jared Thompson at first late in the VS 9-2 win over Marion in Van Horne.

With a 9-2 win over Marion at the Benton Community baseball field in Van Horne on Monday, the Vinton-Shellsburg varsity baseball team is just one win away from returning to State for the second season in a row.

But to get to Des Moines, they must defeat a 30-11 Central DeWitt team that has already defeated V-S twice this season.

The Vikings travel to DeWitt for a 7 p.m. contest Wednesday.

"We have our work cut out for us," said Struve. "They have a very good pitching staff."

The Sabers are led by two senior pitchers. Max Steffens has a 6-2 record and an ERA of 1.12. TJ Sikkema is 7-0 with an ERA of .44

Big inning erases early troubles

The Vikings struggled early in the game against Marion, walking in one run and allowing another to score on an error as the Indians built an early 2-0 lead.

But the Vikings rallied for six runs in the fifth, with thanks to aggressive running and some defensive miscues by Marion.

Jared Thompson led off the inning with an infield hit then advanced to second on an error. He later scored the first Viking run.