NB baseball picks up first wins of season

After starting the season with an 0-10 record, the North Branch baseball team earned its first two wins of the season, coming at the Brooklyn Center tournament May 2-3.
Earlier in the week, the Vikings fell to Big Lake. After falling behind 12-5 by the end of six innings, the Vikes staged a huge rally in the seventh inning, taking over the lead with 10 runs in the inning.
North Branch was unable to hold off Big Lakeís bats, however, as their opponent also rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the inning for a 16-15 win.
North Branch tallied 14 hits in the game, led by Mike LeVoir who was 4 for 5 including 1 double and added 2 RBI. Jake Anderson, Jeremy Anderson and Patrick Ryan had 2 hits apiece. Jeremy Andersonís hits included a three-run home run, on his way to 4 total RBI.
Last Saturday, the Vikes came away with win No. 1 of the season, coming in the form of a 2-0 shutout in the opening round of the Brooklyn Center tournament against St. Peter.
The first run came in the sixth inning, as Nick Aaland led off with a double, and scored on a double from Jake Anderson.
The final run of the game came in the eighth inning, when Ed Meier led off with a double and came around to score on a single from LeVoir. Jake Anderson also singled in the inning.
LeVoir chalked up his first varsity win, pitching the complete game and striking out 5. Jake Anderson led the offense, going 3 for 4.
North Branch continued to look strong in the second game of the tourney, facing Brooklyn Center in a 2-1 loss.
Both teams were scoreless until the fifth inning, as the Vikings scored 1 but were answered in the bottom half by a Brooklyn Center run to tie it up.
Jake Anderson reached on a single in the inning, advanced on a single from LeVoir and scored on a single from Aaland.
Brooklyn Center added its second run in the seventh inning for the win.
Jake Anderson pitched 6 strong innings in the outing, recording 2 strikeouts. Aaland was 2 for 3 with the lone RBI of the game. North Branchís defense had no errors in the contest.
The loss put the Vikes in the consolation game of the tourney, facing Blake, where they came up with a 5-4 victory.
The Vikes took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, as Meier reached on an error and advanced on a double from Pat Ryan. Both came in to score on sacrifice fly balls in the inning.
North Branch increased it to 3-0 with a run in the third, as Blake picked up its first run in the same inning.
Blake came up with 3 more in the sixth inning, but was unable to overcome the 5-4 North Branch lead.
The Vikes took third in the tourney, as Aaland pitched in his first varsity win against Blake. Jeremy Andersonís bat was on fire in the game, going 4 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI.
This week, the team was set to face Mora Thursday at home.

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