Vikings Baseball Kicks Off League Schedule With W

League wins are the key. They dictate how a team does throughout the season. And Schreiber Vikings starting pitcher Dylan Kane knew that coming into Tuesday's matchup with the Farmingdale at Guggenheim Elementary School.

"I knew that it was our first league game and it's important," Kane said. "Getting that first win out of the way is the toughest."

The Schreiber Vikings (3-0, 1-0) did just that in its 7-3 league win on Tuesday, a first of hopefully many to come, according to coach Matt Holzer.  

"League games are crucial in the standings and we need to win those games," Holzer said.

Kane struggled at first giving up a double to Dalers center fielder Brandon Veraka, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman James Darcy. But the right-hander endured and went on to throw three straight scoreless innings. Kane wasn't done there. He went on to throw an 88-pitch complete game, surrendering two earned runs and striking out three.

The bats came alive early for the Vikings, specifically that of designated hitter Everett Keller. In the bottom of the first, with the bases loaded and the game tied 1-1, Keller cracked a 3-1 fastball off Dalers pitcher Glenn Cinelli toward right-center field.

"That was huge for us," Holzer said of Keller's triple. "He worked the count to his favor and got a fastball and drove it the other way which is very good."

Keller, the team's ace, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored, said he was happy his bat could help as much as his arm usually does. "I'm just glad to contribute to a league win with something other than my pitching arm," he said.

The Vikings scored all seven of their runs over a three-inning span. With a 4-1 lead in the third inning, third baseman Ethan Sander stepped up to the plate and was thinking RBI the whole time. "I wanted to drive in Danny [Kaminksy] and Kyle [Featherston]," he said.

Sander dug in on a 2-2 count and crushed a curveball sent from Alex Brosnan's right hand into left-center field, giving Schreiber a 6-1 lead. Kane said he felt pretty comfortable after that stretch of innings with a five-run lead, but knew he couldn't rest on his laurels.

"I have to keep my composure for an entire game and besides a few hiccups here or there, I think I did that somewhat today," Kane said. "There's still much needed improvement though."

The Vikings will have a chance to improve on Tuesday's result when they take on Farmingdale on the road on Thursday, April 8. The team then heads to MCU Park, the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, on Saturday to take on Manhasset in a non-league game.