Vikings force Game 3 in playoffs
Sputerski@lahontanvalleynews.com

FALLON — Sharp is the easy way to put the South Tahoe pitching performance on Friday.
Tyler Sharp was masterful as the big right-hander blanked Fallon, 4-0, in the second game of Northern Division I-A best-of-three series. The Greenwave, however, won the first game, 10-7, but the Vikings win forces Game 3 at 11 a.m. today in Fallon.
The winner advances to next week’s double-elimination Northern DI-A regional tournament in Winnemucca.
“The kids played well,” South Tahoe coach Starbuck Teevan said. “Game two, our pitcher (Sharp) threw lights out. It was probably his best game all season. We took advantage of our opportunities … and would like to get a win tomorrow (today) and move on.”
Sharp was just that as the Vikings starter scattered five hits, while the offense pushed across four runs to stymie Fallon. Sharp was on point as his 1-2 combination of locating his fastball and his hard breaking curveball kept the Wave off balance.
In the process, South Tahoe also snapped Fallon’s 13-game winning streak and kept its hopes alive of a regional tournament appearance.
“I felt good, all my pitches were working and just went out there and concentrated on hitting my spots,” Sharp said. “I think we kept the batters off balance pretty well with curveballs and first-pitch strikes.”
The Vikings hit pay dirt in the top of the fifth inning with three runs. Bobby Gonzales singled and was foolwed by a walk from River Quinn. Sergio Burgueno slapped an RBI single and Dominic Diana followed with an RBI to push the lead to 3-0.
Cody Higgins added an RBI single in the sixth to seal the win.
The first game, however, Fallon rallied from a 4-3 deficit to take the first game. The Wave pushed across three runs in the first inning thanks to RBI singles from Dalton Johnson and Cody Long.
South Tahoe countered with three in the second highlighted by an RBI triple from RJ Rivera and a run-scoring single by Quinn.
Trailing 4-3 in the fourth, Fallon tallied three runs, which were knocked in by Johnson and Long. Fallon extended the lead to 10-4 and held on for the victory.
“We made a handful of mistakes in the first game, which cost us,” Teevan said.

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