Lakeside’s Cole Chisholm allowed just 6 hits and two runs in a tough 2-1 loss for the Vikings in Game 1 of their Class 6A state playoffs best-of-three series with Lambert. (Photo by Mark Brock)

A tough 2-1 loss in the Class 6A second round best-of-three series against Lambert proved to be a big missed opportunity as the Lakeside Vikings’ season came to an end following a 10-0 loss in the second game.

Lambert took an early 2-0 in the opener on a two-run homer by catcher Kyle McCann that seemed to be a deep fly ball, but carried just over the fence.

Lakeside’s Cole Chisholm settled in from that point and set down the next seven Longhorn batters. He would finish the game allowing just six hits in six innings along with one strike out and one walk.

Lambert’s Cole Varner allowed a runner in each of the first three innings, but did not allow a runner past second over the first half of the game. He sat the Vikings down in order in the top of the fourth.

Lambert got a leadoff single by Jake Tomelevage in the bottom of the fourth, but catcher Drew Hinton threw him out easily on a steal attempt to help Varner get out of the inning unscathed and the Vikings still just down 2-0.

Varner ran into trouble in the top of the fifth by walking Kierman Acklin and Nolan Wilson. A sacrifice bunt attempt by Khaalis King turned into a force out at third as Varner made the play off the mound.

Varner caught King leaning at first and threw for the pickoff, but King got in a run down and Wilson ended up scoring to trim the lead to 2-1 while King reached second.

A walk to James Knight and a fly ball by Jaret Barr put King at third when Varner hit Sean Mootrey with a pitch to load the bases. Varner got out of the inning with the lead intact via a strikeout.

Lakeside’s James Knight (1) gets back to first safely after singling in the top of the 3rd inning against Lambert. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Chisholm gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, but fielded a bunt and threw the runner out at third to escape the threat.

Drew Hinton led off the sixth with a walk and his courtesy runner stole second to put the tying run in scoring position for the Vikings against Longhorn reliever Hunter Furlong. Acklin singled with one out, but got caught in a run down for the second out and the Longhorns threw home for a bang-bang play at the plate where the Viking runner was called out.

Chisholm gave up a double to open the bottom of the sixth off the bat of Alex Todd, but got three consecutive fly balls to center to keep the Vikings just one run from tying the game with three outs remaining in the game.

Todd entered the game in relief of Furlong in the top of the seventh and set the Vikings down in order to get the save for Lambert.

Down 1-0 in the series, the Vikings were the home team in the second game, but the Longhorns scored three runs in the first inning and three more in the second on the way to a 10-0 win to sweep the doubleheader and win the series 2-0.

DCSD BASEBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS
Wednesday, May 4
Class 6A
Lambert 2, Lakeside 1
Lambert 10, Lakeside 0
(Lambert wins series 2-0)

Friday, April 29
Class 6A
Lakeside 7, Westlake 6
Lakeside 8, Westlake 6
(Lakeside wins series 2-0)

Newton 12, Tucker 1
Newton 12, Tucker 0
(Newton wins series 2-0)

Class 5A
Cambridge 13, SW DeKalb 1
Cambridge 10, SW DeKalb 4
(Cambridge wins series 2-0)

Dalton 12, Dunwoody 5
Dalton 12, Dunwoody 0
(Dalton wins series 2-0)

Forsyth Central 10, Druid Hills 0
Forsyth Central 6, Druid Hills 0
(Forsyth Central wins series 2-0)

Class 4A
Cartersville 12, Redan 3
Cartersville 11, Redan 0
(Cartersville wins series 2-0)

Heritage-Catoosa 4, Chamblee 3
Heritage Catoosa 12, Chamblee 2
(Heritage wins series 2-0)