The Community Middle School Vikings came calling on the host Cornersville Middle School Bulldogs for an early season game at the Bulldogs’ immaculately, groomed field on Monday afternoon.

Behind some gritty pitching from Colyn Schillig, the Bulldogs were all even with the Vikings until a big seventh inning push by the Community boys netted the Vikings their first victory of the year, 10-5.

Both teams scored runs in the first inning as Cole Taylor coasted home on a wild pitch for the Vikings and Gage Lovell scored for the Bulldogs after coaxing a leadoff walk, stealing second base and coming home on a base hit by Elijah Blasingim.

The Bulldogs wasted a chance for a run in the bottom of the second inning as Logan Terry led off with a blistering shot down the left field line, but was stranded on second as the Cornersville batters could not bring him home.

The Vikings struck again in the top of the third when Taylor led off with a base hit, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on hit by Walls.

Again, the Bulldogs countered in the bottom of the third as Lovell led off with a hit, stole second, gained third on a bunt by Shillig and then rambled home on a wild pitch to tie the score at 2-2.

In the top of the fourth inning the Vikings jumped out to a 4-2 lead as Landon Berman and Taylor scored on a base hit by Ethan Walls.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Vikings added to their lead as Lovvorn was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and came around on an error by the Bulldogs to push the lead to three runs at 5-2.

In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs showed a bit of what they are capable of accomplishing when Landon Berman hit a ball to the left side of the Bulldog infield and gained second on a throwing error.

The Bulldogs then threw away the ball away, trying to nab Berman at second base and the ball rolled into left field where Terry ran it down with the Viking runner rounding third and heading for home.

A great throw home by Terry beat the runner, who tried to reverse his steps to third base and what followed was a textbook rundown play that the Bulldogs executed to perfection.

A major league team could not have performed this feat any better as Lovell tagged out Berman on the fourth relay throw.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs mounted a comeback as Courtemanche coaxed a walk from Taylor and the Vikings made a pitching change, bringing in Krimsonn Foxx.

A scary moment came as Foxx’s first pitch hit Terry in the helmet and the Bulldog hitter fell to the ground as a hush fell over the crowd.

Terry was checked by personnel from both teams and after making it up to his feet he headed toward the Bulldog dugout.

With Pugh inserted as a pinch runner for Terry at first base and Courtemanche at second, Gage Shillig then worked a walk to load the bases.

Campbell worked another walk for Cornersville and Courtemanche scored, making it 5-3 as Community made a pitching change, bringing in Wesley Haley.

Lovell hit a sacrifice fly to score Houston Pugh to make it 5-4 before Colyn Shillig walked to reload the bases and that was followed by another base on balls to Jackson to force in another run to tie the game at 5-5 at the end of the sixth inning.

The Vikings rallied in the top of the seventh with consecutive base hits by Berman, Braxton Veri, Moe Berman, and Lovvorn as the Vikings doubled up the score at 10-5.

The Bulldogs could not respond in the bottom of the seventh and dropped the five-run game.

Community 101 210 0 5-10

Cornersville 101 003 0-5

Community: Cole Taylor 1-for-3, Ethan Walls 3-for-4, Moe Berman 1-for-3, Landon Lovvorn 1-for-3, Landon Berman 2-for-3, Braxton Veri 1-for-1, Wesley Haley 1-for-1,

BB: M. Berman, L. Berman.

RS: Taylor 2, Lovvurn 3, Walls, Veri, Haley, Dylan Markum, L. Berman

RBI: Walls 3, Lovvurn, Veri, Haley

WP: Haley (2IP, 0H, 0R).

Taylor (5IP, 3H, 3R, 2BB).

Krimsonn Foxx (1H, 2BB)

Cornersville: Elijah Blasingim 1-for-3, Gage Lovell 1-for 3, Logan Terry 1-for-3.

RBI: Blasingim, Lovell

BB: Lovell 2, Colyn Shillig, Houston Pugh, G. Shillig Jackson.

RS: Lovell 2, Courtemanche, Pugh, G. Shillig.

2B: Terry

SF: Lovell.

FC: Gage Shillig

LP: Blasingim (2IP, 2H, 4R, 2SO, 2BB).

Colyn Shillig (4IP, 2H, 2R, 1BB).

Bennett (1IP, 1H)