VIKINGS WIELD BIG BATS

VIKINGS WIELD BIG BATS
The Diablo Valley baseball team opened the season with two hard-hitting wins over district-rival Contra Costa last week, in which the Vikings amassed 33 total runs.
The Vikings endured a series of setbacks in the offseason, especially regarding the pitching staff, with players departing for personal reasons. But the team boasts some big sticks in the lineup.
Returners OF Zac Guardino and C/OF Drew Downing (Northgate) both hit over .300 in the Big 8 last season. Freshmen SS Jordan Williams (Albany) and CF Tyler Toland (Deer Valley) are looking sharp, along with sophomores, RF Ricky Pato (Deer Valley) and IF Andres Rodriguez (Deer Valley), also key players.
DVC is guided by veteran head coach Steve Ward, in his 30th year of coaching.

Here's a look at the first two games:

DVC 21, Contra Costa 6: The Vikings trounced the Comets Saturday afternoon, improving to 2-0.
Leadoff Jordan Williams stayed hot with a run of threes: three hits in three at-bats with three runs, three walks and three RBIs.
Drew Downing had two doubles and three RBIs as the Vikings had 16 hits. Frank Pannacci was 2 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs. Ricky Pato had two hits and two runs. Rob Towne was the winning putcher, working five innings and allowing two earned runs.

DVC 12, Contra Costa 9: Jordan Williams was an ideal table-setter with three hits and three runs scored, helping the Vikings prevail in the teams' season openers.
The Vikings, who scored 11 times over the third, fourth and fifth innings, received a huge game from Drew Downing, who was 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs. Other Vikings with two hits were Zac Guardino (2 for 3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), A.J. Welsh (2 for 3, 3 RBIs, run), and Frank Pannacci (2 for 4, run, RBI).
Winning pitcher Nate Jenkins allowed and two earned runs over three innings.
 -- Matt Schwab