Vikings American Legion 3, Patrick Henry 2 - Opening playoff game

Owen McNally pitches in the bottom of the sixth
of a two-hit, nine-walk win over
rival Patrick Henry in the opening game
of the American Legion playoffs
July 18.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Left-hander Owen McNally pitched six gutsy innings of two-hit, two-run ball, despite giving up nine walks, to lead the Vikings to a come-from-behind 3-2 win in the opening game of the San Diego American Legion playoffs Thurs., July 18, at Mission Bay High.

Senior Calvin Hyytinen drove in Simon Baker from third on a double play groundout in the top of the seventh for the winning run.

Coach Jake Grosz's Vikings go with another left-hander, Devin Brown, in their second game of the playoffs Fri., July 19, at 11 a.m. on the same field. The local championship concludes Saturday.

"I walked the first guy (Ryan Miller, Henry's leading hitter during the school season with a .407 average)," said McNally, as the postgame celebration went on around him on the Bucs' field. "Then I started pitching."

The junior threw 104 pitches, the most, he said, he has thrown. "I maxed out at about 90 pitches in a game against Patrick Henry during the JV season" in the spring, McNally recalled.

Hyytinen was pretty stoked after the win. "Dope," he said of the feeling of the moment, though knowing the playoffs had only started. "This game's a big rivalry game against Patrick Henry," which has been known to be a team that gives out some chatter.

Of his grounder to plate Baker, the outfielder said, "I just put the ball into play. There were no outs, so even with the double play, it scores the run."

And the more relaxed Legion atmosphere last month and this month? "Playing with my friends" has been the highlight, Hyytinen said. "The atmosphere is way different--100 percent."

The Vikings were able to overcome a 2-0 lead the Trojans (named after a Marine military plane) achieved in the bottom of the first, on an umpire's call in the top of the sixth to tie the ballgame.

In their half of the sixth, with two outs and runners on second and third, D.J. Lindroth hit what looked like a routine groundout to shortstop. But the umpire's ruling was that the Henry first baseman pulled his foot too soon, and Connor Hobbs and Cooper McNally crossed the plate.

That made the score 2-2.

After the Vikings went ahead on Hyytinen's double-play groundout in the top of the seventh, Trey Metz came on in relief of Owen McNally. After getting two quick outs, the right-handed junior walked three Trojans in a row to load the bases.

He got pinch-hitter Kyle Wilsie swinging on an 0-2 fastball to close out the game.