Photo by Samantha Davis. Minneota’s Carson Javers celebrates after making it safely to second base in the bottom of the second inning against Canby Thursday night. Minneota defeated the Lancers 13-3 in five innings in their home opener.

MINNEOTA — Minneota’s strong and contagious offense was too much for Canby to overcome in the Vikings’ home opener on Thursday night. The Vikings brought in 12 runs through the first two innings for a five-inning, 13-3 win in Camden Conference play.

“Our offense was good. We took advantage of what they [Canby] gave us … At this time of year, I think hitting is a little ahead of pitching in most aspects, and we just took advantage of that a little bit,” Minneota head coach Keven Larson said. “We ran the bases pretty well … When we got a chance to put the ball in play, we did.”  

The Vikings jumped right into action with their first at-bat, paired with a good defensive effort throughout the night. Canby got some offensive momentum going, bringing in three runs in the second inning, yet Minneota showed up big again offensively to put the game away early. 

“We didn’t start very well … The second inning, we got a lot of guys up to the plate. We were seeing pitches, we got a couple good hits, got some RBIs,” Canby head coach Nick Kockelman said. “But, we gave away a lot of free bases those first two innings.” 

For Minneota, Ryan Meagher pitched the first three innings and was credited with the win. He threw seven strikeouts, allowing two hits, three earned runs and five walks. 

For Canby, Bryant Hanson started on the mound for the first 1 1/3 innings before being relieved by Jace Rangaard, making his first varsity appearance on the mound. Hanson allowed eight hits, seven walks and 12 earned runs. Rangaard threw a pair of strikeouts while allowing six hits and one earned run, with one walk. 

Parker Bradley led Minneota with three RBIs, while Kyson Arndt and Destin Fier added another two. Nearly all Vikings accounted for at least one run. 

Cash Antony and Will Abrahamson had Canby’s two hits, Antony’s of which led to a team-high two RBIs. 

Meagher got the game started with three straight strikeouts to put Canby in the field. 

“That’s what we expect out of all of our guys — Just go out and do your job, and hopefully good things will happen,” Larson said. 

Bradley got the action started with a lead-off single line drive over third base, and stole second base on a passed ball with Brody Larson at the plate. 

Off a wild pitch, Bradley sprinted home for the day’s first run, moving Javers up to third. 

Eli Gruenes was walked, followed up with a double fly ball sacrifice to center field from Carson Javers to score Mason, while advancing Gruenes to third base. 

With two outs, Adam Dalager loaded the bases up after getting walked, moving up Kellen Bradley, a pinch runner for Carson, to second base and Gruenes to third. 

Arndt and Fier were walked back-to-back, giving the Vikings a pair of runs. 

Joey Lacek gave Minneota a 5-0 lead with a single to left field, running in Dalager. 

Parker kept the rally going with another single back to left field to allow Arndt home, before Canby’s defense could wrap up the inning. 

Although down early 6-0, Canby put up a fight and cut into its deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. 

Meagher remained at the mound and walked Dyllon Christianson, who moved to second base off a Cody Stoll sacrifice ground-out. 

Rangaard also walked, and Eli Greenman stepped up to the plate to hit a single to center field and bring Christianson home, and advanced Rangaard to third. 

A big Jaxon Groenhoff single to deep right field brought in two more runs, before Meagher halted Canby’s momentum with a strikeout for the final out. 

Putting themselves near mercy-rule territory, the Vikings scored another six runs in the bottom of the second.

“We had a lot of walks in the first inning, but then they [Minneota] were putting the ball in play, and we’ll live with that, no free bases,” Kockelman said. “Then, he [Rangaard] threw a lot of strikes as a sophomore. He did a good job.” 

Meagher started off the inning with a single off the first pitch with a grounder to third, and also stole second base. 

Gruenes hit a double to center field, advancing Meagher to third. Meagher was tagged out running home off a Carson grounder to shortstop, who was safe at first, with Gruenes able to make it to third. 

Dalager hit a double to left center field to bring in Gruenes, while the bases loaded up with Arndt getting walked next. 

A fier walk forced in a run, and Dalager stole home off a passed ball. Minneota kept the bases loaded as Lacek was also walked. 

A Canby fielding error allowed Ardnt to run home from third base with an infield hit from Parker, as the Lancers struggled to get it off to first, to put Minneota up 10-3. 

“I thought we left a couple plays out there … But, we did make some good plays in the infield,” Kockelman said. “Just to get some live action again, it takes a little bit to get into this flow.” 

In an effort to get the final outs, Kockelman made the pitching change to Rangaard. 

The final two runs for the Vikings came from another walk off loaded bases and a single RBI hit from Meagher. 

The Vikings held off Canby the rest of the night offensively, while bringing in their final run in the bottom of the third off an Arndt single RBI out to center field to bring in Kellen, running for Carson, who initially got on base with a single. Kellen’s run gave Minneota its 10-run advantage.

Coach Larson made the pitching change to Mason Javers in the fourth. 

“Ryan, we’ve seen him in the past … One game last week that got canceled, he was going to throw a little bit. So, that’s why we started him tonight. Sometimes he’ll be relief, sometimes he’ll start,” coach Larson said. “Our relief guy tonight [Mason], he’s a new kid, just wanted to see what he had … It was nice to get him a couple of innings just to see what he’s got.” 

Minneota opened up its season on Friday with a resilient 16-14 win over Adrian/Ellsworth behind an eight-run sixth inning. 

Minneota (2-0) has a quick turnaround and will hit the road today to take on Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove in Lamberton at 4:30 p.m. 

“We don’t have a lot of home games this year. Our schedule is road-heavy, so it’s nice to play at home,” coach Larson said. “A bunch of games in a row, so it’s nice to come out and play well. It gives you a good feeling going into tomorrow.” 

Canby (0-1) also returns to the diamond today in its home opener, set to host Wabasso with a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.