By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

ROME, Ga. – Mike Coduto's run-scoring single in the top of the 15th inning turned out to be the game-winning RBI as North Park defeated Berry 6-5 in a thriller Sunday afternoon at Berry's William R. Bowdoin Field. 

North Park wasted little time jumping on Berry starter Trent Hillis, as Ryan Javech and Tony Sanchez hit back-to-back solo homers in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Two more North Park runs scored in the second inning to give Chicago's version of the Vikings a 4-0 lead over Berry's Vikings.

But Berry would score one run in the third, two in the fifth and then the game-tying run in the seventh inning. That last run came on an Austin Neely RBI single.

Neither team would score again until the 12th inning, with Berry's run coming on a Cason Dremann RBI single. Three innings later, Coduto delivered his game-winner.

North Park's Wes Mleziva snuffed out Berry's rally attempt in the bottom half of the inning as he retired Thomas Johnson on a game-ending double play grounder, stranding two runners in the process.

Even in defeat, Berry head coach David Beasley remained upbeat.

"I thought we did a great job," Beasley said. "We played hard, and we were one swing away from winning the game. In the six extra innings, we had runners on base and the right people at the plate. That's baseball. I thought we did a good job of putting ourselves in that position."

Dremann, Stephen Gaylor, Austin Neely and Nick Stidham all had three hits for Berry while Johnson and Brandyn Jackson both had two.

Coduto, Jeff Paulson and Zak Worsley each had three hits for North Park while Sanchez finished with two.

Mleziva recorded the win, pitching three and one-third frames of scoreless ball. Christian Champion, who began the day as Berry's shortstop, took the loss, pitching two and two-third innings of one-run ball.

The Berry Vikings will return to the diamond on Tuesday against Covenant at 5:00 p.m.

- BerryVikings.com -