TARBORO —
Tarboro Vikings senior Chase Johnson threw one of the best games of his career Tuesday night at Municipal Stadium in Tarboro as the Vikings were playing for a share of first place in the Eastern Plains Conference as they hosted the Farmville Central Jaguars. Tarboro just couldn't get the key hit at the right time to score a run to keep them alive as they were defeated 1-0. With the loss the Vikings move into second place in the conference.
The Vikings fall to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
Tarboro left nine runners on base in the game. One timely hit or an error by by the Jaguars would have turned the game around into a different outcome.
"We battled against a good team but we left too many men on base," Tarboro head coach Justin Smith said. "We didn't capitalize on the chances we had to score. That hurts when you are playing a good team like them."
Johnson gave up the only run of the game in the first inning. With one out, Stephen Allard and Justin Taylor both singled to center field in back to back at bats. Jon Sherman then hit a ground ball to the Vikings first baseman Austin Holland who tagged the base for the second out of the inning, but Allard scored for the Jaguars to give them a 1-0 lead.
Johnson threw a complete game while taking the loss. He gave up the one run on six hits and struck out eight.
"Chase had an outstanding performance for us," Smith said. "He was phenomanal and showed why he is our number one guy on the mound. He stayed around the plate all game and got the big outs for us when we needed them. He has threw the ball well for us all season."
Tarboro had plenty of chances to score off of Sherman who started for the Jaguars and got the win. With one out in the first inning, Tyler Wooten singled and then with a hit and run play on Johnson hit a ground ball to shortstop and Wooten advanced to second and Johnson was called out at first on a close play. Drurry Armstrong then hit a fly ball to the pitcher to end the Tarboro threat.
In the third inning the Vikings had another chance to tie the game up with runners on first and second with one out after Wooten and Johnson drew back to back walks. Armstrong and Timmy Walker both struck out to end the inning.
In the fifth inning Wooten got his second hit of the game with two outs. Farmville Central intentionally walked Johnson and Armstrong reached on an error by the Jaguars shortstop. With the bases loaded Walker struck out to end the inning. Tarboro had stranded eight runners on base through the fifth inning. Five of those runners were in scoring position.
In the sixth inning, the Jaguars had back to back hits to start the inning, which didn't affect Johnson on the mound. He battled back and struck the next batter out. With one out in the inning, Johnson then got Daniel Nobles to hit into an inning ending double play.
The double play put a spark into the Vikings as they came in to hit.
In the bottom of the inning the Vikings had another opportunity. Holland reached base on an error by the Jaguars third baseman Taylor. Keith Williams then moved Holland to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Smith decided to let Tristan Bateman run for Holland. With the Jaguars infield in anticipating a bunt by Tarboro, Bateman stole third base. The Jaguars then changed pitchers and relieved Sherman with Taylor who throws the ball in the upper 80's. The first batter he faced was Trey Radford. Taylor struck out Radford on three pitches. With two outs, Travis Martin then hit a ground ball back to the pitcher to end the Vikings threat once again.
In the seventh inning the unthinkable happened. With one out, Wooten was at the plate for the Vikings. With two balls and two strikes, Taylor threw a pitch high and inside to Wooten who tried to roll away from the pitch, but was hit in the left side of the face by the pitch. The reaction from the Tarboro bench drew fire in their eyes as they watched their four year starting catcher be helped to the bench as the left side of his face began to swell. Wooten walked off the field on his own and went to the hospital to be checked out. He was told that he didn't have a any broken bones or fractures, but has been sidelined from action and can't play until next Wednesday when the Tarboro Easter Classic begins.
Taylor then retired the next two batters to end the game.
Tarboro was without one of their leading hitters and second baseman Layne Brewer in the lineup. So Coach Smith had to make adjustments in his lineup, which proved to show he has people who can step in and get the job done when they are asked to play different positions. Radford played second base for the Vikings and made several big plays for them defensively, which included starting the double play that got them out of the sixth inning.
"We don't make excuses no matter who we are missing in our lineup," Smith said. "We came to play with the lineup I put out there and they showed that we can play with the best teams out there. We play for the name on the front of our jerseys and not for whose name is or isn't in the lineup. I know the fire is there in my guys and there is no quit in them."
Tarboro will try to bounce back from the tough loss and get back on track Thursday when they travel to Bethel to play the North Pitt Panthers at 7 p.m.
The Vikings will be on spring break next week, but have three big games ahead of them as they try to repeat as the Tarboro Easter Classic tournament champions. Action in the tournament starts next Wednesday , but activities will begin Tuesday evening.
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Tarboro Vikings senior Chase Johnson throws a pitch in the third inning Tuesday at Municipal Stadium in Tarboro against the Farmville Central Jaguars. Johnson recorded eight strike outs. Photo/Van Holland
Johnson, Vikings fall to Jaguars
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