Its hard to chase in the State Tournament.

Valparaiso scored two runs in the first and six more in the second, five unearned, and held on for a 9-3 Sectional opening victory over Chesterton in Merrillville on Wednesday.

In the first, the Vikings put together a single, double and triple for a 2-0 lead and never looked back.

In the second, Valpo took advantage of a botched ground ball and two batters later hit a grand slam home run, their first home run of the year, for an 8-0 lead.

Chesterton tried to mount a rally beginning in the top of the third as Zac Jenks and Bobby Humphreys singled with one out. KJ Zelenika singled to left to plate Jenks, but Humphreys was picked off at second base and the Trojans’ rally ended.

After Valpo scored one more run in the fourth, the Trojans again mounted a rally.

Andrew Ralph doubled and scored on Jordan Morandini’s single before Kevin Jones singled to put runners on first and second. A single by Brandon Jenks plated Morandini, but the Trojans never scored again.

Offensively, Zac Jenks had three hits for the Trojans. Also garnering hits were Humphreys, Zelenika, Brandon Jenks, Austin VanderZanden, Jones, Ralph and Morandini.

Jake Post got the start for Chesterton and worked 1.2 innings before being lifted for Humphreys. Humphreys worked 4.1 innings, scattered three hits and struck out two.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Chesterton 001 002 0 -- 3 10 4

Valparaiso 260 100 x -- 9 9 2

2B -- Andrew Ralph ©; Bafia (V). 3B -- Olejniczak (V). HR -- Gallinati (V). Pitching Summary -- Chesterton -- Jake Post (1.2 IP, 6 H, 2 K, 1 BB), Bobby Humphreys (4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 3 BB); Valparaiso -- Bafia (7 IP, 10 H, 14 K, 3 BB). WP -- Bafia. LP -- Post.

Posted 5/24/2012