Vilnius Logipolija outlasted by Vikings: drop two in similar fashion
The Vikings won a pair of hard-fought games against Vilnius Logipolija this fourth weekend of the Lithuanian Championship. Game 1 featured Edvardas Matusevicius as the starter for Logipolija. Matusevicius churned out his best start of the season, showing increased velocity and poise on the mound even as he entered into the later innings. Matusevicius went 7 innings giving up only 4 hits and one run against the reigning Lithuanian Champs, Juodasis Vikingas, before being replaced by player/coach Virmidas Neverauskas in the 8th Inning. The Vikings brought home 5 runs in the 8th innings, four of them being scored against Neverauskas.
On the other side, Rolandas Santaras started on the mound for the Black Vikings and led their offence going 2-5 with a run and 2 RBI’s. The final score was 6-4.
Sunday’s game 2 had a similar flair to game 1. V. Neverauskas was the starting pitcher this time going successful thru 7 innings before (again) giving up five runs in the 8th , a total that could have been less if not for two key 8th inning errors by the Vilnius defense.
R. Santaras again started for Vilnius on the mound, with Evaldas Remeika pitching the final innings; the duo allowed only 2 runs on four hits and recorded 6 strikeouts over 9 innings. The final was 7-2.
E. Remeika is a new addition to the Black Vikings this year, leaving Logipolija and joining the Black Vikings for the 2009 season. He has been a boost both on the mound (since Vikingas lost their top two pitchers from last season’s championship run) as well as at 3rd base.
Offensive Leaders: Vikingas: D. Jacevicius (2-2, R, 2 RBI, SB), E. Remeika (3-6, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB), H. Kucinskas (2-2, R).
Logipolija: M. Stravinskas (3-3).