LOUISDALE, N.S. - The green and gold were more like blue and gold over the weekend.
The ARHS Vikings captured the first ever NSSAF Division 2 baseball championship in Louisdale on Sunday, Oct. 14.
With the large number of schools registering a baseball team, the NSSAF decided to go to two divisions instead of just one this year. Based on student enrolment, ARHS falls in Division 2. The Vikings overcame frigid temperatures and a tough schedule to come away with gold.
Due to heavy rains prior to the weekend the Vikings didn’t play their first game until 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, which happened to be a doubleheader.
In the final on Oct. 14, the Vikings beat a very talented Par-en-Bas team 5-2
Vikings’ ace Graden Chitty threw a complete game two-hitter and recorded 10 strikeouts. Chitty made two key defensive plays on line drives hit right back at him.
The first came with two out and runners on second and third. The second came in the sixth inning with the lead-off batter on he calmly snagged the ball and doubled the player off first ending any chance of a rally.
Par-en-Bas scored two in the second, but Chitty shut the door the rest of the way.
The Vikings answered the call by scoring four in the bottom of the second. Cal Hoeg had the big hit for the Vikings a two-RBI single with the bases loaded and two out. Cole Stevens got an RBI on a hit by pitch.
Chitty helped his own cause with two hits and a run scored. Jackson Comeau and Jayden Matheson also had singles.
After the first day of play all four teams had a record of 1-1, which meant the final round robin games were essentially like semifinal games with the winners advancing to the championship. The Vikings beat the host Richmond Academy by a score of 11-4 to advance.
Cal Hoeg pitched six strong innings earning the win on the mound while Jackson Comeau came in for the final three outs.
Chitty had five hits for the Vikings including two doubles and three singles. Hoeg helped his own cause with a double and two singles. Jayden Matheson also had a double and two singles. Cole Stevens, Jackson Comeau, Jake Adams, and Brady Crowe all had a double and a single. Mike Farrell had two singles and Aaron Sjanic had a single.
In the second game of the tournament, Eastern Passage handed the Vikings their only loss with a score of 10-2.
Chitty, Hoeg, Comeau, and Matheson all saw mound duty for Amherst. Chitty had two singles, while Stevens, Hoeg, Matheson, and Adams all had base hits.
In their opener, ARHS downed Par-en-Bas by a score of 17-4 after five innings.
Cole Stevens pitched the whole game scattering six hits and recording five Ks. Graden Chitty had two doubles. Jayden Matheson added a double, while Cole Stevens, Brady Crowe, and Mike Farrell all contributed with singles.
Cal Hoeg reached base safely in all five plate appearances with four walks and a hit by pitch. This is the last year for five of the Vikings as Stevens, Hoeg, Sjanic, Farrell, and Crowe are all in Grade 12.
The Vikings would also like to thank the Town of Amherst for letting them host the regionals.
