Bigfork baseball splits two league games

Bigfork catcher Sam Plummer reaches for a throw on a force out at home against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork centerfielder Cavin Wiest (16) tracks down a line drive against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork pitcher Mason Lewis (22) delivers against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork third baseman Hayden Mayer (8) tags Eureka's Rogan Lytle (3) after fielding a grounder in the hole at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork second baseman Rye Rodriguez (23) throws to first for an out against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork second baseman Rye Rodriguez (23) fields a grounder for an out against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork's Sam Plummer (12) connects on a double against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork's Rye Rodriguez (23) scores on a sacrifice fly against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork shortstop Grady Campbell (3) throws to first for an out against Bigfork at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork second baseman Rye Rodriguez (23) catches a shallow fly ball against Eureka at ABS Park on Thursday, April 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by BRANDON HANSEN For the Eagle
| April 16, 2025 12:00 AM

The Bigfork Vikings experienced both heartbreak and dominance in a pair of league matchups this past week, dropping a narrow 4-3 decision to Eureka on Thursday before overwhelming Browning 31-1 in a three-inning mercy-rule victory Saturday.

With the split, Bigfork moves to 4-2 on the season, staying firmly in the mix in a competitive league race.

Eureka 4, Bigfork 3

In a tightly contested home game Thursday afternoon, the Vikings fell just short against Eureka, who pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth to escape with a 4-3 win.

Eureka jumped out early, plating two runs in the first inning, but Bigfork responded with a run in both the first and second to knot the game at 2-2. After trading runs again in the middle innings, the score remained deadlocked until Eureka’s late push in extras.

Bigfork managed five hits in the contest, with doubles coming from Hayden Mayer and Sam Plummer. Liam Benson and Mason Lewis each recorded RBIs, and Cavin Wiest contributed a base hit.

On the mound, Mason Lewis started strong for the Vikings, tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out four. Mayer followed with two innings of one-run ball, and Benson closed the final two innings, also allowing one earned run.

Bigfork 31, Browning 1

Saturday’s home matchup against Browning was an entirely different story, as Bigfork erupted for 28 runs in the second inning en route to a 31-1 blowout.

The Vikings recorded just 10 hits but capitalized on nine Browning errors to fuel one of the most lopsided victories in recent memory.

Ryder Rodriguez led the offensive onslaught with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate, driving in a run. Liam Benson added six RBIs on a 1-for-1 day that included a double. Cavin Wiest plated four runs, while Mason Lewis, Ryder Hamilton, and Grady Campbell each delivered multi-RBI efforts.

In total, 12 different Vikings drove in runs in the contest.

Bigfork’s pitching was equally dominant. Holland Jantzen started and pitched two perfect innings, striking out six and walking one. Ryder Rodriguez closed the shortened game with a scoreless third inning, striking out three despite issuing three walks.

Notably, Bigfork did not commit a single error defensively in the win.

With a 4-2 league record, the Vikings remain a strong contender as the regular season unfolds. Their ability to compete in close games, like Thursday’s narrow loss, and dominate when given the opportunity, as shown Saturday, underscores the balance of power across the league this year.

Thursday, April 10

At Bigfork

EUREKA 4, BIGFORK 3

Eureka - 20001001 - 4 - 7 - 2

Bigfork - 11000100 - 3 - 5 - 2

BIGFORK HITTING: Ryan Rodriguez 0-3, Grady Campbell 0-4, Liam Benson 1-2, Hayden Mayer 1-3, Sam Plummer 1-3, Mason Lewis 1-3, Holland Jantzen 0-3, Ryder Hamilton 0-3, Cavin Wiest 1-2; RBI: Benson, Lewis; 2B: Mayer, Plummer

BIGFORK PITCHING: Mason Lewis (4IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4SO), Hayden Mayer (2IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 1SO), Liam Benson (2IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2SO)

Saturday April 12

BIGFORK 31, BROWNING 1

Browning - 001 - 1 - 0 - 9

Bigfork - 2(28)x - 31 - 10 - 0

BIGFORK HITTING: Cavin Wiest 1-3, Liam Benson 1-1, Sam Plummer 0-3, Hayden Mayer 0-1, Mason Lewis 1-2, Braxton Wheeler 0-1, Grady Campbell 2-2, Wyatt Hickey 0-1, Ryder Hamilton 1-2, Holland Jantzen 1-2, Ryder Rodriguez 3-3; RBI: Wiest 4, Benson 6, Plummer 2, Mayer 2, Lewis 3, Wheeler, Campbell 2, Hamilton 3, Jantzen 2, Alex Vigil, Rodriguez, Tytan Rodgers; 2B: Benson

BIGFORK PITCHING: Holland Jantzen (2IP, 0 H, 0R, 1BB, 6SO), Ryder Rodriguez (1IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 3SO)