Alec Craig takes a cut for Valley. Craig had three hits and notched the pitching win as the host Vikings beat Warsaw 9-2.

AKRON – Maybe the Tippecanoe Valley baseball team should have a bad pregame infield before every game this season.

The formula sure worked wonders for the Vikings Wednesday night.

The Vikings shook off a poor pregame performance and went on to dominate county rival Warsaw 9-2 in the season opener for both teams.

Valley rode a red-hot start after the aforementioned pregame with a five-run first frame to take control from the start.

Alec Craig was the man in the middle of everything for the Vikings. The talented three-sport athlete, who is one of four seniors this Spring for the Vikings, had three hits from his leadoff spot in the batting order.

Craig, who smoked a triple to open the home half of the first inning, also notched the pitching win. The right-hander went five strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

Valley saw its first six batters of the game reach safely. Freshman Tanner Trippiedi and junior Adam Myers each had RBI doubles to make it 2-0 and sophomore Lucas Walters capped the start with a two-run single to push the lead to 5-0. Warsaw starter Jordan Jones, one of seven seniors, did strike out the final three Viking hitters in the opening inning.

“We had a handful of great at-bats to start the game with Alec getting a huge hit to get us going,” noted Valley coach Justin Branock.

“The funny side tonight was that our pregame infield was bad. I got into them a little bit after that. I was extremely happy with how they responded from that. As our upperclassmen go, our young guys will follow them. Our four seniors set the tone but this was a team effort all the way around tonight.”

Warsaw plated a run in the second on an infield single, two walks and a hit batter. Craig got out of further damage by getting a roller to third for the final out with the bases loaded.

“I really liked how Alec got out of the second with giving up just the one run,” said Branock. “That was big for him. The key for his is his ability to throw all of his pitches on any counts and he did a really good job of that tonight.”

Lucas Walters hustles back to first.

Valley added a pair of runs in the second on a two-run single by Walters. The hosts added single tallies in the fourth and sixth frames, including an RBI single by Walters in the sixth.

Warsaw scored a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Alex Miller.

The Tigers, who came out flat, finished with just five singles and had three errors in the loss.

“We learned a lot tonight and this was eye-opening for us,” said Warsaw skipper Mike Hepler. “We came out and played tight, unsure and tentative. I’m not sure how to explain it. I did not expect this. We had some great practices in the preseason.

“Craig set the tone for the game for Valley. He was as close to being a one-man show tonight as you can be.

“Some times you need a wakeup call like this. We just have to come out tomorrow (Thursday) and play better. We need a better approach and a better start against Huntington North.”

Walters went 3-3 at the plate with a double and three RBI for the Vikings. Freshman Tucker Shull was 2-3 with a double, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, while Myers was 2-3 with a double and two runs scored.

Liam Patton had two singles to lead the way for Warsaw.

Sophomore Ethan Yates worked the final two innings on the hill for the Vikings.

The pregame featured a fitting tribute to honor longtime announcer Wayne Landis. Landis, a former teacher at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, threw out the first pitch prior to the contest. There was also a banner, which read “Wayne Landis, The Voice of Valley Baseball,” that will be placed on the press box to honor him.

Warsaw hosts Huntington North Thursday, Columbia City Friday and South Bend Riley Saturday before starting conference play at Wawasee Monday. Valley plays at Bremen on Saturday.

The Warsaw C team beat Concord 5-3 Wednesday evening. Gage Lyon had two hits, including a double, an RBI and a run scored for the Tigers. Tristan Grubbs had two hits and an RBI and Jacob Hutchinson was the winning pitcher for Warsaw.

Hunter Early takes a big rip at the dish.

Adam Myers stares down a baserunner after making a stop behind the plate.