The Vikings swept Iowa Lakes from Estherville in four games on Saturday and Sunday. Jefferson College outscored the Lakers 29-9 and pounded seven home runs.
Kevin Moulder is in his second season as the Vikings head coach. He led them to a 47-10 record last season, but Jeffco didn’t make it out of the Region 16 Tournament after losing to Crowder. Moulder said the Vikings have a deep pitching staff, their usual burly sluggers in the middle of the lineup and a solid defense.
“The names change but the expectations don’t,” Moulder said after Jefferson beat Iowa Lakes 5-1 in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader in Hillsboro. “We expect to compete for a national championship. To get that done, you have to play well every single day. It’s not about winning in Grand Junction (Colorado) right now, it’s about us doing what it takes to do daily to win.”
Sometimes it takes being hit with a backswing. That’s what happened to Jefferson College sophomore Austin Schmitt – twice. In the Vikings’ second game against the Lakers on Saturday, Schmitt was hit on the hand by Jalen Jones. That hand was swollen Sunday when Jones’ backswing caught Schmitt on the left elbow. Within seconds, Schmitt had a large bump there. He was taken out of the game and will be reevaluated later this week.
“I was sitting back waiting for the fastball, he took a long hack with a long backswing and knocked me in the elbow,” Schmitt said. “It was the second time he did that to me this weekend, so that’s bush league.”
“He got hit directly on the elbow and it will hurt bad tonight and (Monday) but hopefully by the end of next week, it will be calmed down a little bit,” Moulder said. “He’s a catcher. He knows what he signed up for.”
Schmitt will share time behind the plate with freshman Landon Tenkhoff. Both catchers are struggling at the plate; Schmitt is hitting .160 and Tenkhoff .095.
Schmitt understands the rigors of his position. He was told it’s probably the most physically demanding of any position in any team sport.
“I wouldn’t say that’s a lie,” he said. “Play catcher and you’ll figure it out. Every day, you’ve got to ice your legs. You’re doing more with your body than anybody else on the field. You’re constantly bouncing. I’d say hockey goalie might be second but that’s about it.”
First base is being split by sophomores Matt Dunham and Will Richardson. Dunham (.316) has two home runs and has drawn 10 walks.
The Vikings middle infield is made up of sophomore second baseman Leo Markotic and freshman shortstop Josh Gibson, who is also the leadoff batter and has three doubles, two triples and 10 stolen bases. Markotic is batting .304 with 10 RBIs.
Third base is platooned by freshmen Brett Hammit and Tommy Woods, who missed the first two weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain, but had a home run and three RBIs in Sunday’s 5-1 win and was 3 for 4 with three runs scored in the second game Sunday. Woods transferred from Missouri State University. Hammit leads Jeffco with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
“They’re big dudes in the middle of our lineup with major power,” Moulder said about Hammit and Woods.
The Vikings have a swift outfield made up of freshman Joey McKnight in right, sophomore Jack Rigoni in center and sophomore Bailey Crump and freshman Matt Erwin in left. Rigoni has stolen 20 bases in 16 games.
The city of Toronto has been good to the Vikings in recent years. Center fielder Matt Turino was a key part in their run to the World Series. Now sophomore lefthander Adam Parker looks to be the next Canadian to help in Hillsboro. Parker struck out 13 Lakers, pitched six innings and earned the 5-1 win.
“It always starts with starting pitching and Adam Parker gave us six innings and set the tone for us,” Moulder said. “We had a couple of big swings and I’m probably most happy with our good defense. When you get all of that together, you’re going to win a heck of a lot of baseball games.”
Moulder sent out five pitchers to get the 10-3 win in Sunday’s second game. Sophomore lefthander Cameron Prayer pitched five scoreless innings and struck out 10 to earn the win. Freshman lefthander Reece Lang is the staff leader with three wins and 14 innings pitched and has a solid 1.26 ERA.
Sophomore Elijah Richeson, a 2018 Festus graduate, transferred from Lindenwood University in St. Charles and will come out of the bullpen.
“He’s done a good job on the year,” Moulder said. “He has really good stuff and he’ll definitely be a big part of our bullpen. We’ve got a lot of capable guys in the bullpen.”
Jefferson hosts St. Louis Community College in a doubleheader on Saturday before Lake Land College from Mattoon, Ill. comes to Hillsboro on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game.
“We have a very talented team,” Schmitt said. “We’re finding that out and we’re starting to play better as a whole unit. We’re meshing all around. It’s good to get good weather to see how good we can be. Playing in the cold stinks because you can’t get a good grip on the ball.”