Vikings’ rise not out of left field
Despite seeding, Upper Merion believed it would make a run in district playoffs
For most of this scholastic baseball season, Upper Merion was just another name in the score tabulations of the local newspapers.
Win a couple, lose a couple, nothing spectacular.
But suddenly the Vikings are more popular than spinners.
It’s amazing what a run in the district playoffs will do.
And not only were the Vikings the talk of the District One Class 5A playoffs, they’re now about to embark on a foray into the state baseball playoffs. Take a bow, Matt Mitchell. The second-year head coach had a pretty normal existence going for him.
Now, suddenly, he’s one of the most popular guys in the area.
“At the beginning of the season we thought we had a chance to make some noise,” said the man in charge of the team’s fortunes. “We have a
“I just had a feeling when we got off the bus at Interboro that we might be ready for something special. And the longer the game went on, the better I felt.”
— Matt Mitchell, Upper Merion head coach
lot of good ballplayers, and we had that two-week wait to see if we were going to get in (to the playoff field), and I think that might have helped us.”
The team got going late, then suddenly, out of the blue, shocked top-seeded Interboro and then Bayard Rustin, guaranteeing the Vikings a state-playoff berth.
“I just had a feeling when we got off the bus at Interboro that we might be ready for something special,” Mitchell said. “And the longer the game went on, the better I felt.”
The Vikings ultimately shocked the top-seeded Bucs, 3-2, then did the same
to Bayard Rustin.
And when they went up on Springfield Delco, 5-0, in the district semis, the Excito-Meter was on overload.
But the Vikings made some glaring errors, the Cougars took advantage, and now the Vikings are staring at a consolation 3-4 game against old Suburban One League rival Upper Moreland (the game will be played at Masons Mill Park, not at Upper Moreland).
Upper Moreland is led by head coach Dan Heiland, pitchers Tommy Jacobs and Dawson Ruggles and the bats of Matt Wister and Brandon Kohn.
“I think we’ll be excited because we’re playing an old rival,” Mitchell said. “I know it’s not necessary to win the game to get into the playoffs, but I think we’ll be ready to play.”
Meanwhile, the excitement is back and the Vikings are basking in it.
“I just feel real good for the seniors who have gone through a couple of tough seasons,” Mitchell said. “Now I think we can go in and play nice and loose and I think that will help us.” PERKIOMEN VALLEY (15-6) AT NORTH PENN ( 19-3), TUESDAY, 4 P.M. >> The Knights, fresh off their quarterfinal win over Spring-Ford, take on the Vikings, fresh off their win over HatboroHorsham, meet in the District One semis with the winner reaching the district final.
The Knights have pitcher Matt Stevenson ready, while the Vikings will likely use Tyler Strechay. A win there and the Knights would see either old foes Pennsbury or Neshaminy in the finals.
PLUMSTEAD CHRISTIAN (142) VS. FAITH CHRISTIAN (108), WEDNESDAY, 4 P.M., WIDENER UNVERSITY) >> In most cases, the playoff games over the next couple of days will determine state playoff seeding as opposed to playoff qualification.
But that’s not the case in the District One Class A baseball final between Plumstead Christian and Faith Christian which will determine the district’s lone representative in the state playoffs.
Plumstead features Constitution Division MVP, pitcher Brock Hewitt, who will likely take the ball when the two teams square off. The Panthers also feature first-team, All-League performers Brendon Meyer (2b) and outfielders Ben Weaver and Christian Roberts.
Faith Christian counters with All-Leaguers DJ Cesario (ss), Carter Heller (3b,p), David Forscht (of), Tim Nice (of) and Josiah Smith (p).
The Pioneers, fresh off landing their third straight District One baseball crown, take on the D-12 playoff champion, which was not yet determined at press time Saturday. COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (13-10) AT HATBORO-HORSHAM (167), TUESDAY, 4:30 >> The Hatters look to avenge their loss to Perkiomen Valley in a playback game against the Golden Hawks.
Look for La Salle recruit Colin Kennedy, hard-luck loser in the Hatters’ setback to Marple Newtown, to get the ball for Hatboro.
In softball playoff games involving local teams this week: CHRISTOPHER DOCK (14-6) VS. SPRINGFIELD-MONTCO (3-14), AT WILLIAM TENNENT HIGH SCHOOL, WEDNESDAY, 4:00 >> The Pioneers are the heavy favorite when Dock and Springfield go at it for the district title on Tuesday at Tennent.
Dock is led by the bats of Jill Bolton and Kelly Strickland, which produced seven RBIs in the Pioneers’ 14-4 win over St. Basil’s in the district semis. NORTH PENN (17-5) VS. QUAKERTOWN (15-4), AT NORTH PENN, TUESDAY, 4:00 >> The Maidens and Panthers do battle to stay alive in the playback round.
North Penn is coming off its heartbreaking, 1-0 loss to Perkiomen Valley in the district quarters, is looking for some retribution while the Panthers are looking to bounce back after a loss to Spring-Ford.