Despite all the thunderstorms moving through the area this weekend it was still possible to get some ball games in.

Northwood-Kensett played host to Lake Mills, North Butler, and West Hancock in what was supposed to be a round robin tournament before the weather couldn’t hold off any longer and cancelled the final game.

In the first game of the day the Vikings (2-8) met their rivals from Lake Mills (8-6), who by the way had just beaten Northwood-Kensett twice earlier in the week. But this time around it was the Vikings who took home bragging rights with an 8-3 win.

“You can tell that they don’t like losing to Lake Mills,” said Vikings head coach Mike Reindl. “I was very pleased with the way we played today, the kids were really making good contact and we didn’t beat ourselves.”

In order to get the games played on just one diamond the teams were playing only five inning games so when Northwood-Kensett jumped out in front of the Bulldogs 2-0 after one inning there was cause for concern on the Lake Mills bench. Spencer Capitani and Mike Bachtl both doubled in the inning as the Vikings came out with the hot bat.

In the top of the second it was the Bulldogs turn when with one swing of the bat Scott Abbey got Lake Mills right back in the game with a towering three-run blast to right-center field that put the Bulldogs in front 3-2 with just three innings left.

After Northwood-Kensett evened the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the third the Vikings offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth with five runs for an 8-3 advantage. It all started for the Vikings with two outs in the inning and ended with a three run shot over left field by Bachtl that effectively ended the game. Bachtl stole the day with a double and the long ball while pitcher Jake Weisert helped his own cause with three base hits.

In game two for the Bulldogs they showed they can quickly bounce back from adversity as they pounded North Butler 11-1 on nine hits. Abbey once again went yard for LM and collected three RBIs. Abbey homered twice on the day and drove in five runs; Royce Byrnes also had an outstanding day with three base hits.

In the final contest of the day the Vikings were to face West Hancock but this one was cancelled when the bad weather hit with Northwood-Kensett in front 5-2.

“We have a new motto this year for the kids,” Reindl said. “One inning at a time, one batter at a time, one out at a time, nothing else matters.”

Game One

Northwood-Kensett 8, Lake Mills 3

LM – 030 00 – 3 3 2

NK – 201 5x – 8 9 0

WP – Weisert 5 IP, 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 K, BB

LP – Midlang 5 IP, 8 runs, 9 hits, 4 K, 2 BB

Game Two

Lake Mills 11, North Butler 1

LM – 502 40 – 11 9 2

NB – 001 00 – 1 3 0

WP – Throne 5 IP, run, 3 hits, K

LP – Reiher 5 IP, 11 runs, 9 hits, K, 2 BB