NEPA Sports Nation

Vikings remain unbeaten, 7-1

Riverside is the last unbeaten spring sports team remaining in District 2 after the Vikings made it through the first round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A baseball tournament with a 7-1 victory over Sayre at Bowman Field in Williamsport.

(Zachary Allen Photo)

Michael Rickert, Trevor Balcerzak and Jason Janesko each drove in two runs for the Vikings, who recovered quickly after District 4 champion Sayre took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Rickert was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and two runs scored. Balcerzak also had two hits. Janesko doubled.

Riverside, the Lackawanna League Division 3 and District 2 Class 2A champions, scored twice each in the third and fifth innings then three runs in the sixth to complete the scoring.

R.J. Santarsiero and Zach Day combined on a four-hitter.

Santarsiero, who also contributed a double offensively, allowed a run on four hits while walking four and striking out six. Day struck out one in a hitless seventh inning.

Riverside improved to 23-0 going into Thursday’s state quarterfinal against District 5 champion McConnellsburg, a 9-3 winner over Newport Monday. McConnellsburg has won eight straight to improve to 17-4.

Hazleton Area had also been unbeaten going into the state baseball tournament, but lost in the first round in Class 6A.

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