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Well-rounded Vikings head into new season

Becky Regan
bregan@tahoedailytribune.com
Steve Puterski / LVN Photo

This year’s baseball team is all about balance.

The Vikings aren’t about one star pitcher, one standout slugger, or some speedy outfielder. This year, South Tahoe has all its bases covered.

“What most excites me is the balance that this team has,” coach Starbuck Teevan said. “We have pitching. We have a pretty solid lineup and good defense in a mixture of sophomore, juniors and seniors.”



Despite graduating a couple key players, among them All-State player Colton Marchesseault, coach Teevan said this year’s team has all the pieces needed for postseason success.

“Last year we were 12-16, but obviously we’re definitely looking to improve on that this year, and we’ve got a good group of kids to do that. We have 11 seniors on the team, and these kids have all played together for most of their lives so we’re looking to make a run at it this year,” Teevan said. “We’ll see what happens but we’ve made a big improvement on last year because most of the guys played summer ball and fall ball.”



South Tahoe is 3-3-1 overall and 1-0 in league thus far, and has already demonstrated a consistent starting rotation. Pitching has led the Vikings to their three wins.

South Tahoe senior Tyler Sharp leads the Vikings’ rotation. Sharp’s off-speed pitches are his biggest weapons. He has good command of his curve ball and change-up, keeping batters off balance and in check.

“And he’s just intimidating because of his size, 6-4 and 225 pounds,” Teevan said. “He also hits in the middle of our lineup.”

Sharp is batting .474 in the preseason and leading the Vikings’ lineup with 10 RBIs and two homeruns. He also doubles as catcher when he’s not pitching.

Cody Higgins and Jordan Mann are an interchangeable No. 2 and No. 3 in the rotation.

Higgins is a left-handed pitcher and also adds a big bat to the lineup. He is batting .625 in the early season.

Mann is new to the South Tahoe rotation and doubles as a right fielder when he’s not on the mound.

Skylar Sheldon rounds out South Tahoe’s rotation.

At the top of the batting order, Sergio Burgueno and Christian Coats will be setting the table for the Vikings. Dominic Diana, Mann, Sharp and Higgins represent the heart of the Vikings’ lineup.

“I’ve been switching them around to see what works, but those guys up at the top really the guys who get things going for us,” Teevan said.

Kolby Eymann, River Quinn, Liam Loftis, RJ Rivera, Joey Anderson, Taylor Weik, Gabe Carranza, Bobby Gonzales, Spencer Harnett, Mike Guili and Dillon Bertolina round out the varsity roster.

“In all, we’ve played very well at times, not very well at times, but it starts with our pitchers throwing strikes,” Teevan said.

UP NEXT: South Tahoe will play a doubleheader against Whittell at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday at Lampe Park in Gardnerville, Nev.


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