UNIONVILLE — Senior night for the Community Vikings ended in dramatic fashion.
After falling to the Monarchs in Game 1 of a doubleheader, the Vikings found a way to rally past the visitors in Game 2 thanks to a walk-off single by senior Stratton Lovvorn.
Lovvorn’s hit in the bottom of the fifth handed the Vikings a 5-4 victory to cap the night.
Lovvorn made the most of his senior night, both at the plate and on the mound.
He went 2-for-3, including the game-winning hit and RBI, in addition to pitching well in the first trip through the battery.
“Not surprised at all with Stratton stepping up getting the big hit. For a guy to be out of baseball for as long as he has to be doing what he is at the plate, in the field and on the mound is pretty amazing. He is just a great athlete and happy for him that he was able to get that big hit,” Viking coach Robbie Davis said.
Lovvorn got the start on the mound for Community and through the first six batters faced, Lovvorn struck out five.
On the second trip through the lineup, the Monarchs were able to put the ball in play and had rallied for a 4-2 lead with a four-run third inning.
Fellow senior Dylan Norris took over on the mound and pitched the final two innings, allowing just two baserunners and giving the Vikings a chance to come back.
Community did jus that.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, senior Sam Holley singled to right to lead off the inning and eventually scampered around the bags on a pair of passed balls.
He later scored on a sac-fly by Blaine Paschal to pull the Vikings within one.
While the Monarchs were able to leave the bases loaded in the fourth, Community would not be denied after Norris struck out three batters in the top of the fifth.
Corey Paterick was hit by a pitch to lead off the Community fifth inning and advanced to second base on a Monarch error.
He then made his way to third base after a passed ball and then scored when Holley laid down a perfect bunt-single that allowed Paterick to score the tying run.
With Holley safely reaching, he was aggressive on the base paths and stole second and third.
Having safely reached third base with just one out, Lovvorn stepped to the plate and connected on the game-winning single to right field to cap a perfect Senior Night.
Prior to the first pitch of Game 2, Community honored its four seniors, Sam Holley, Stratton Lovvorn, Dylan Norris and Gage Underwood.
“This group of seniors have been a fun group to be around. They are a very close group who have had to overcome a lot. Losing an entire season to COVID has been a challenge for everyone but these guys worked extra hard especially in the off-seasons to overcome the time they have missed. It's been fun to see them develop not only as baseball players but mature into young men who for sure will have a great future ahead of them in whatever they choose,” Davis said.
Holley, Underwood and Lovvorn all went 2-for-3 against the Monarchs in Game 2, while Norris was 1-for-3 with a double.
Lovvorn pitched three innings and despite giving up four runs on five hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
Norris pitched the final two innings, striking out five and allowing just two walks.
Community faces Cascade on Monday night.

Monarchs 004 00 — 4 5 1
Community 110 12 — 5 9 1

Community: Dylan Norris 1-for-3, Gage Underwood 2-for-3, Stratton Lovvorn 2-for-3, Blaine Paschal 1-for-2, Sam Holley 2-for-3, Mason Russell 1-for-3.
2B: Russell
WP: Norris