By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

STEVENSVILLE – Walks, hit batsmen and wild pitches cost the Niles baseball team a shot at dethroning defending district champion St. Joseph Monday afternoon.

The Vikings led 2-0 heading to the fourth inning, but gave up a pair of runs.

With the score knotted at 2-2, the Bears scored four runs in the top of the fourth without the aid of a hit or a Niles error.

The Vikings walked batters, hit batters and all four runs scored on wild pitches.

St. Joseph added three more in the fifth using pretty much the same situations and came away with a 9-2 victory.

The Vikings grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Matthew McLaughlin tripled and Rashad Harris grounded out to score the run.

Niles made it 2-0 in the third inning when David Garner doubled and Kevin Gross singled him home.

Garner started on the mound for the Vikings, but a blister on his middle finger forced him from the game in the fourth inning.

Ricky Briand came on, but couldn’t get the Bears out, so freshman Chris Mangus was sent to the hill.

He didn’t fare much better for the Vikings.

Niles outhit St. Joseph 6-4, led by McLaughlin and Garner’s extra base hits.

“It’s been the same story all year, why should I expect anything different?” Niles coach Mike Vota said after the game. “We gave up four hits and we gave up nine runs. That’s guys not making plays and just not playing baseball. We didn’t deserve to win.”

The game was supposed to be played on Saturday, but when heavy rains rolled through the area just after noon, the game was moved to Monday.

In the first game, which was played on Saturday, Lakeshore defeated Edwardsburg 5-3.

The Lancers defeated the Bears in the title game 6-0.

St. Joe 000 243 0 – 9 4 0
Niles 101 000 0 – 2 6 2
David Brennan (W)
David Garner (L), Ricky Briand (5), Chris Mangus (5)
2B: David Garner (N), Carter Nimtz (SJ)
3B: Matthew McLaughlin (N), Connor Ross (SJ)