In starting the season with five straight wins, the Cedar Ridge baseball team had 15, 14, 11, 15, and seven runs to show for it.
Their lower amount of hits was eight in its 7-4 victory over Northern Vance last week in Henderson, the Red Wolves’ Big 8 opener.
Then came Thursday. More to the point, then came the Vikings’ Seth Boone.
The Vikings 5-5 senior pitcher threw a two-hit shutout in Northern Vance’s 4-1 victory over the Red Wolves (5-1, 1-1 in the Big 8). Only senior Brandon Andrews and Sailor Ramos scored hits for the Red Wolves.
Cedar Ridge earned the opener in the two-game series on Wednesday, beating the Vikings 7-4 on a blustery day in Henderson. Andrews earned the win, throwing five-plus innings, striking out six while scattering five hits. Evan Hall finished the game in relief.
Andrews also homered, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Erik Zehnder also homered for the Red Wolves, a two-run homer in the third innings.
Through five games, freshman Jake DeFranco leads the team with a .611 batting average, starting 11-for-20 with three doubles. Junior Adam Chnupa is hitting .500 at 7-for-14 with four RBIs.
On the mound, Andrews is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA with 22 strikeouts and four walks. The Red Wolves host Chapel Hil on Tuesday, then travel to CHHS on Friday.