Bishop Verot Jumps On Barron Collier Early & Secures First Win

An early three-run home run from Bishop Verot’s Carson Smith set the tone and the Vikings outlasted the Barron Collier Cougars 4-1 to pick up their first win of the season Tuesday night in Ft. Myers.

The Vikings (1-0) didn’t waste any time jumping ahead of the Cougars. In the bottom of the first, Gunnar Byrd and Matthew Cedarburg walked to reach base. With one out, Carson Smith took a 1-2 pitch and sent it sailing over the left-field wall to bring home Byrd and Cedarburg to give the Vikings the 3-0 lead. With one swing Smith matched his 2016 home run total.

Dylan Doria answered for the Cougars (0-1) in the top half of the second inning with a double to right that brought home Andre Bozza. After leading off the inning by reaching on an error, Bozza stole second to put him in scoring position. Three pitches later, Bozza crossed the plate to pull the Cougars to within two.

Aside from the three-run home run in the first, the Cougars pitching had a solid night. Nick Geller and Sean Means combined to throw 105 pitches over six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out nine.

Unfortunately, the one run was all the Cougars could muster on offense, as they were stymied by the Vikings’ pitchers all night. Levi Kelly started the game for the Vikings and went six strong innings, throwing 81 pitches and only allowing two hits. Kelly struck out eight and walked only two, allowing one unearned run.

Gunnar Byrd added another run in the bottom of the fifth on an error charged to the Cougars to bring the lead back to three. The Vikings then turned the ball over to Cade Middleton to close out the game. Middleton picked up right where Kelly left off, striking out the final two batters he faced to secure the 4-1 victory for the Vikings.

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