Vikings
| 04/03/25 @ West Jefferson | 24 |
| 04/01/25 @ Salmon | 8 |
| 03/31/25 @ Firth | 8 |
| 03/29/25 vs North Fremont | 2 |
| 03/27/25 @ Wendell | 7 |
| + 5 more games |
The Challis Vikings will head out on the road to face off against the Sugar-Salem Diggers at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Challis is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.
Challis is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They put the hurt on West Jefferson with a sharp 24-3 win on Thursday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Vikings.
Marlen Mitchell made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out nine batters over four innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off one hit. Those nine strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Tanner Ellsworth was a standout: he went a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI, two doubles, and one run. Another player making a difference was James Parker, who scored two runs and stole four bases while going 3-for-3.
Challis kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Sugar-Salem ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Thunder Ridge 3-2. The win was nothing new for the Diggers as they're now sitting on four straight.
Jack Gardner spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on two hits and racked up ten Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Sugar-Salem saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Will Chappell, who scored a run while going 2-for-3. Ben Aldrich also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen bases of the season.
Challis' record now sits at 7-2-1. As for Sugar-Salem, their record is now 7-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Challis has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Sugar-Salem struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Challis might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from Sugar-Salem when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Vikings avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
