Grand View College Sports Information

Molly Brown, Director

(515) 263-6040

mabrown@gvc.edu

 

May 7, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Yacinich picks up career win 1,000 in comeback thriller; Vikings advance to Region VII tourney

Des Moines, Iowa – The Grand View baseball team came into today’s doubleheader against Mount Mercy with two things weighing heavy on their minds. First and foremost, the Vikings, tied in third place with the Mustangs in the Midwest Classic Conference standings at 15-11, had to win one of two of today’s games to advance to the post-season. The second, getting head coach Lou Yacinich his 1,000th win.

The Vikings didn’t fare well in the first game of today’s match-up. Grand View gave up 14 hits and 10 runs while their offensive attack consisted of just 7 hits and 3 runs.

The nightcap didn’t appear to be heading in a favorable direction either for the Vikings as they found themselves down 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. They were on their third pitcher of the game, their seventh of the day. But things began to turn around for Grand View.

Lead-off batter Josh Lehrkamp walked. Brad Brown reached first base on a fielder’s choice and Kevin McCarroll (Napa, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. Grand View #3-hitter Tyler Adams (Des Moines, Ia.) stepped into the batter’s box and belted the first pitch over the center-field fence for the grand slam and closed the gap 6-5.

With the Vikings down 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth, five consecutive batters hit singles for Grand View. Kyle Heatherington (Fort Dodge, Ia.) and Jake Olson (Des Moines, Ia.) scored on a single by Brad Brown (Des Moines, Ia.). Lehrkamp (Des Moines, Ia.) scored on the single by Scott Weberg (Kelowna, B.C.) and Brown scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Cesar Camacho (Yabucoa, P.R.) to gave the Vikings a 9-7 lead.

Heatherington (4-2) switched from the right field position to pitcher at the top of the seventh inning. The first two batters for Mount Mercy flied out to the outfield and the final batter for the Mustangs struck out looking for the final out of the game.

With the win, Grand View (28-21 overall, 16-12 MCC) advances to the NAIA Region VII Tournament hosted by the University of St. Francis, May 10-13th, in Joliet, Ill.

In his 32nd season at Grand View, Yacinich’s career mark includes 852 wins with the Vikings and 148 wins in the high school and junior college ranks. He is the third winningest coach in the NAIA, a member if the NAIA Hall of Fame, the Grand View College Hall of Fame, and the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.  Yacinich also serves as athletic director at Grand View.