Vikings American Legion lose playoff games 4-3, 14-0

Johnny Meyerott leads off second base after
his double in the top of the seventh
in the first game. He hit .455 in
Legion games.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

The La Jolla Vikings American Legion ended a good summer run Fri., July 19, losing their second and third playoff games 4-3 and 14-0 at the hands of West Hills and Patrick Henry, the latter whom they had beaten the day before 3-2 in an opening playoff thriller.

"It was a great summer," said Jimmy Meyerott, an LJHS alumnus who was at the coaching reins for the back-to-back games played at Mission Bay High with Coach Jake Grosz committed elsewhere. "The guys played their butts off. I've got to go take a shower," the older brother of left fielder Johnny Meyerott said in an evening wrap-up.

After the Vikings lost a heartbreaker, 4-3, in the bottom of the seventh to West Hills in the 11 a.m. opener, negating lefty Devin Brown's 105-pitch effort, Johnny Meyerott had an encounter with the outfield fence on a spectacular catch try early in the second game and was removed as a concussion precaution with a cut on his face.

"He didn't feel too good," said his older brother. Unfortunately, his removal also took part of La Jolla's offense with him, as his two doubles in the earlier game were the only hits along with Cooper McNally's base knock.

Vikings starter Devin Brown toils
through 5 2/3 innings, throwing
the maximum 105 pitches.

Simon Baker went five innings against Henry, but the Vikings just didn't have enough pitching to sustain success in the playoffs, which culminate in Patrick Henry and West Hills facing off for the San Diego championship at 1 p.m. Saturday. Both teams have already qualified for the state tournament next weekend.

Johnny Meyerott and Jake Klimkiewicz absolutely tore up American League pitching during the season, hitting .647 and .455, respectively. "Klim", who like several other Vikings was on vacation during the playoffs, batted a Strat-O-Matic 11 for 17, with 10 RBI's in six games, including two doubles and three triples.

Meanwhile, the younger Meyerott went 15 for 33 in unofficial stats, with seven doubles and a team-leading 14 RBI's for a 1.289 OPS in 11 games.

Devin Brown recorded a 1.17 ERA during the season, going 2-1 on the mound in six appearances with a 0.94 WHIP in 18 innings.

A particularly satisfying win for the Vikings during the Legion season was downing La Jolla Country Day 13-6 in a final regular-season week game for the right for the third slot for the Marine Division in the playoffs. In that game, Grosz's squad piled up seven runs in the first two innings on the way to a blowout win on their home field at Muirlands Middle School.

Shortstop Cooper McNally reacts after
Connor Evans (right) slides into second safely
in the fourth inning after his pop fly
into short right drops between two Vikings.