Staff photo / Brian Yauger LaBrae senior Dylan Simpson fires a pitch during the team's 9-2 victory over Garfield on Friday

GARRETTSVILLE — After an emotional loss to Poland on Thursday, LaBrae wanted to come out and set the tone early. A pair of runs in the first did just that.

In a crucial game for league purposes, the Viking bats paired with an excellent game on the mound by Dylan Simpson, as LaBrae dispatched MVAC Gray Tier rival Garfield 9-2.

“This was a very, very important game,” Vikings coach Ed Anthony said. “One, because these guys were undefeated in a conference going into this game, and two, we’re coming off of an emotional night against Poland yesterday. They played their lights out and we almost beat them, so it carried over today.

“I was more impressed with our hitting. I mean, we faced a good pitcher. (Eric) Geddes is a very good pitcher. And we had some timely hits today.”

The Vikings matched up Geddes with Simpson, and the senior delivered for LaBrae.

Simpson threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts, surrendering just four hits.

“Dylan did an outstanding job pitching,” Anthony said. “He was up close here at the end to the 100 mark (on his pitch count), but I can tell you right now, he did what he’s done all year. He went right at these batters. He’s good. I mean, he’s a very good pitcher that’s done it all year, and he came up big for us today.”

Pitching has been the hallmark of this LaBrae group each of the past two seasons.

Going into the year, Anthony said how dangerous they could be if the team’s hitting prowess can catch up to its pitching staff.

It’s not where he wants it to be yet, but the Vikings have made clear strides during the season so far.

With 10 hits during Friday’s game against a good Garfield team, things are looking promising.

“I think basically that these kids were pressing themselves too much at the plate,” Anthony said. “We had a talk with them as a coaching staff and we said how we’ve got to get back to having some fun here. They were really pressing themselves too much at the plate. Let’s just relax and let it happen and I was proud of that today because when their pitchers started struggling a little bit there, our guys were more patient than they were earlier in the year. We would have been swinging at some of those. It’s coming.”

The loss drops Garfield to 6-2 on the season.

While not making excuses, G-Men coach Mike Paes mentioned pitcher fatigue as to why no one could get into a rhythm on the mound.

“We had a little fatigue today. We weren’t at our 100%, that’s why I had a quick pull on our pitcher,” Paes said. “We played some big games on Monday and Tuesday and played a game yesterday. Everybody’s playing a lot of games, that’s not an excuse, but our arm fatigue kind of set in and we had to make a quick, quick plug. Their pitcher is one heck of a pitcher. He’s probably one of the best ones we’ll see all year. Nasty curveball, throws the ball hard. We just couldn’t jump to it.

“Hitting-wise, (Anthony) even told me before the game that they liked a little bit more faster pitchers, stuff like that. They did what they said they’re going to do. They came and hit the ball.”

Garfield takes on Carrollton today at 3:30 in Carrollton, and kicks off the road portion of a home-and-home with Crestview on Monday.

The Vikings (7-2) have an unorthodox doubleheader today. LaBrae faces Brookfield at home at 10 a.m., and will get right on the bus after to take on Warren JFK at Eastwood Field for a 1:30 p.m. start time.

Have an interesting story? Contact Brian Yauger by email at byauger@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @_brianyauger.