By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

It took 11 innings and a whole lot of runs for Niles to finally beat North Farmington Friday afternoon.

In a doubleheader three years in the making, the Vikings scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th to take a 14-13 victory.

Niles won the second game 16-1 in four innings behind the one-hit pitching of David Garner.

The Vikings and Raiders have been trying to play for the past two years, but because of weather, both games had to be canceled.

So Friday afternoon, despite chilly and windy conditions, the two teams hit the field.
Offense was the name of the game as neither team’s pitching staff could contain the other.

Niles finished with 14 hits in the contest, including four from Matthew McLaughlin and three from Taylor Campbell.

With the game knotted at 11-11 heading to the 11th inning, North Farmington scored a pair of runs in the top half of the innings to take a 13-11 lead.

The Vikings came back with three runs in their half of the 11th to pull out the victory.

McLaughlin doubled to get the winning rally started and came around to score on a double by Campbell, who also earned the victory in relief of starter Ricky Briand.

Shawn Holland then reached base on an error, the fourth of the game for the Raiders, which plated Campbell to tie the score once again.

Aaron Davis followed with the game-winning single.

McLaughlin finished the game 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple  and five RBIs.

His three-run double in the sixth inning put Niles ahead 10-8.

Campbell was 3-for-6 with a double and three RBIs.

Kevin Gross added a triple and Briand a double.

Garner was the star of the second game as he tossed a one-hitter and had a grand slam.

Niles (5-0) pounded out 13 hits in the contest, led by Aaron Davis, who was 3-for-3.

Mangus was 2-for-3 with a double, while McLaughlin continued his hot hitting by going 2-for-3.

Campbell added a double.

First game

N. Farm. 130 012 130 02 – 13 13 4

Niles 030 044 000 03 – 14 16 4

WP – Taylor Campbell (11), Ricky Briand, Chris Mangus (5) and Shawn Holland and Briand (6)

LP – Matt Fagan and Vince Evangelista

2B: Matthew McLaughlin (N) 2; Campbell (N), Briand (N), Aaron Roberts (NF), Blake King (NF)

3B: McLaughlin (N), Kevin Gross (N)

HR: Danny Deutsch (NF)

Second Game

N. Farmington 100 0 – 1 1 8

Niles 073 6 – 16 13 0

WP – David Garner and Ricky Briand

LP – Bill Lett and Aaron Roberts

2B: Chris Mangus (N), Taylor Campbell (N)

HR: Garner (N)

Varsity record: Niles 5-0

WP – David Garner and Ricky Briand