UPLAND, IN — After dropping Game 1 in the Opening Round, Grand View could have folded. Instead, they regrouped, dug deep, and ripped off four straight wins, culminating in a 16-2 thunderstorm of a victory over Kansas Wesleyan in Game 2 of the Opening Round Finals, a game that now holds a special place in school history. This win sends the Vikings to their first World Series appearance since 1991.
Game 1: Grand View 5, Kansas Wesleyan 3
The opening game set the tone for the series, with Grand View's pitcher Logan Smith delivering a stellar performance on the mound, going six full innings. Despite a two-run homer by Kansas Wesleyan in the third inning, the Vikings responded with a powerful offensive surge and a great closing performance by Jacob Wolver. Brock Rinehart's three-run home run in the sixth inning was the highlight, propelling Grand View into the lead. A Bryce Stalder walk, a Brock Johnson left field rip, and Patrick Bergkamp reaching on an error set the Vikings up to score in the bottom of the 7th. A wild pitch sent one run in, and an Evan borst sacrifice fly to center sent another in to raise the lead to 5-2. In the top of the 9th with 2 outs, Kansas Wesleyn sent a solo shot to center to narrow the lead to 5-3, but the team maintained their advantage, securing a victory and advancing to the if-necessary game.
Game 2: Grand View 16, Kansas Wesleyan 2
After grinding out a hard-fought Game 1 win, Grand View University turned a corner, then turned the series into a statement. The Vikings unleashed an offensive masterpiece and rode pitching dominance to a 16-2 dismantling of Kansas Wesleyan.
In the first inning, Brock Johnson, Patrick Bergkamp, and Evan Borst were retired in order, though Borst nearly left the yard before being robbed at the center-field fence. On the mound, Jason Moist matched that effort with a quick and efficient 1-2-3 inning, showing the poise of a veteran who knew what was at stake.
In the top of the second inning with one out, Brock Rinehart stepped to the plate and blasted a moonshot to right field, breaking the scoreless tie and unleashing a Viking offense that had already started warming up in Game 1. Kansas Wesleyan responded with a solo homer of their own in the bottom of the second to tie things at 1–1 heading into the third inning.
In the third inning, Grand View's offense exploded. With the bases loaded and two outs, Erik Broekemeier drove a sharp single to center, bringing in two runs and making it 3–1. The very next at bat saw Rinehart's second home run of the game, a three-run rocket that left the field in a hurry. The Vikings weren't done. A broken-bat single from Hank Himrich and a double by Brook Heinen, aided by an error, tacked on another run pushing the leade to 7-1.
Grand View kept their foot on the gas in the fifth and sixth inning. A five-run 5th inning, was capped off by a Brock Johnson two-run rope over the left field fence. A pair of solo shot homeruns by Evan Borst and Hank Himrich capped off the sixth inning. Even when the game
was comfortably in hand, Grand View didn't let up. A stand-up double from Borst in the eighth and a wild pitch added one final run for good measure, making it 16-2. A quick final inning, led to a dog-pile on the pitcher's mound as the Vikings celebrated their dominant win, advancing to the NAIA World Series.
While the bats drew the spotlight, the pitching staff and defense wrote their own quiet masterpiece.
A combination of Logan Smith and Jason Moist on the mound to start game one and two were the silent killers of the finals. With Smith going six innings and Moist going four, gave the Vikings the length they needed to get the job done. "They stepped up when they needed to… It was great to see these guys perform on the big stage with all the work they have put in during their career at Grand View" said pitching coach Austin Marchant. He followed up with, "We had great closing performances by (Jacob) Wolver and (Jacob) Draeger which relieved us of going too deep into our bullpen putting us in a great position in both games. I am just really proud of these guys and to see their hard-work paying off." Among the pitching highlights was a double play, several highlight catches, and showed the kind of crisp execution that championships are built on.
A Program Reborn Under Brinker
When Doug Brinker took over Grand View three years ago, the vision was clear, to build something lasting. Few could have predicted just how fast the climb would be. In just his third season, Brinker's Vikings didn't just return to prominence, they blazed their way back. It had been exactly 34 years since the last time the Vikings punched their ticket to the World Series.
GAME NOTES
? The Vikings tallied up 14 home runs, and 6 in the final game
? Brock Rinehart fired off three homeruns and seven RBI's for the two final games
? Logan Smith and Jason Moist pitching ten innings in the final day
? Brock Johnson two home run and three RBI game two
UP NEXT
Now, the Vikings head west to Lewiston, Idaho, for the NAIA World Series. Riding the wave of four straight wins and a lineup that's found its rhythm, Grand View isn't just a participant — they're a contender. Their talent will be tested in game one of the World Series as they face off against the 54-0 LSU Shreveport, looking to end their record-breaking season.
