Preseason games continue to be a somber learning experience for the Vikings varsity baseball team as they lost again, this time 13-2 to another division one team, the Notre Dame Knights of Sherman Oaks.
Coach Sheldon Philip-Guide was hoping to build on the Viking’s recent win against the South High Spartans, but when the team continues not to hit or field when playing against the upper tier teams it hurts any chance they might have to win.
“My idea is to show this team what it will be facing in the playoffs. We want to prepare them with these preseason games so they will know what it is going to take to win in the playoffs. We want to build a program that looks beyond just winning our league. Building a team that will win in the playoffs. Right now, I don’t know if we’re playing well enough to even win our league.” Coach Philip-Guide was outwardly disappointed by his team’s overall performance over the past eleven non-league games.
Andrew Mcritchie, the Vikings’ senior pitcher, immediately fell behind in the first inning against the Knights, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk.
But the Vikings fought their way in the first inning, tying the score after sophomore, Mason Landis was hit by a pitch and was then driven home on a double to deep right-center field by junior Adam Padilla.
Padilla was then brought home on a clutch base hit by junior David Tyre-vigil to tie the score at two. But in the top of the third, the Knights managed to bring another run home and they never looked back, scoring another nine runs over the next four innings. Their runs came in barrage of hits, walks, and errors. While the Knight pitchers held the Vikings to just two hits and one walk over the last five innings.
“We can’t keep playing catch up or letting teams get out in front of us and then waiting for the wheels to come off. We have to get to the point where we believe we can win and play that way,” Coach Philip-Guide said. The went on to say he teaches his players to not dwell on the past, to start every game with a positive attitude. He also made it clear that when league play begins next month – he is not going to play as many of his players, but will stick with those nine that know how to play to win.
It won’t be too soon for the Vikings who are now 1-10 in non-league games. The Vikings play Palos Verdes at Samohi on March 31. Game time is 3:15 p.m. They then play four games in the Babe Herman Tournament in Glendale, before opening league play against Hawthorne High on April 12.
