The South Tahoe High School baseball team began Northern 3A conference play last weekend, heading to Fallon for a three-game series against the Greenwave. After taking the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, 5-4, the Vikings lost steam and subsequently fell to Greenwave, 5-0, in the second game of the series.

Fallon was able to carry the momentum from Friday’s win over to Saturday, topping South Tahoe 21-2 in five innings to finish the series.

“I talked to the team this year about adversity,” said South Tahoe head coach Starbuck Teevan. “We’re going to face it all year, especially while traveling.”

Originally scheduled to take place at South Tahoe, the games were moved to Fallon’s Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex due to snowy conditions at the Viking’s field. South Tahoe was still considered the home team.

In game one, Fallon was able to enjoy a 1-0 lead until South Tahoe’s bats heated up and they were able to put four runs on the board. Viking sophomore Cameron Johnson led off the inning with a single, eventually making his way to third. A wild pitch on the third strike allowed sophomore Kevin Lehmann to make his way to first and bring Johnson home, tieing the game at 1-1. Junior Peyton Galli later doubled to bring Lehman home and add another point for the Vikings. Junior Chris Pfister’s RBIs secured South Tahoe’s lead at 4-1. Pfister pitched the entire game and helped keep Fallon down to only six hits.

Fallon later muscled its way back from the deficit, adding one run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh, to tie the game at 4-4. It was Galli who helped clinch the conference opener win for the Vikings. After singles by junior Tyler Wattanachinda and senior Caleb Bray, Galli had his chance. Fallon closing pitcher Hayden Strasdin delivered a fastball down the middle for a strike to start the count, but Galli read Strasdin well and ripped the next pitch to right field, bringing Wattanachinda home.

“I was trying to do my job, and that was to get on base,” Galli said. “I saw a fastball coming down and waited for my pitch.”

South Tahoe managed 10 total hits for the game, with four coming from Galli and two from Wattanachinda. Pfister gave a boost to the tally with his hit and two RBIs.

After the hard fought win, South Tahoe was unable to keep up with Fallon’s combined offensive and defensive efforts. In game two, senior Garrett Harley provided the Vikings’ one and only hit. The final game of the series was the most significant loss for South Tahoe. Viking sophomore Caleb Caramazza provided the first of two runs for the team, making it a 14-1 game in the third inning. The second and final run for the Vikings came from Lehmann in the fifth inning.

After Fallon put seven more on the board that same inning, the game was called. The current league standings have South Tahoe placed fifth out of nine teams.

The Vikings hit the road again March 24-25 for a three-game series against Elko.

Lahontan Valley News General Manager/Editor Steve Ranson contributed to this report.