CERRO GORDO - Aaron Lowery’s two-run double in the bottom of the second inning proved to be the big hit of the day for the West Columbus Vikings as they opened their 2007 baseball season Tuesday with a 4-3 victory over the visiting East Columbus Gators.

Lowery also drove in the game-deciding run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Chris Russell was the winning pitcher for Coach Ricky Young’s Viking squad. He was relieved by Stephen Nealy in the fifth inning and Timothy “Batman” Brown pitched the seventh.

West Columbus took the win even though it committed six errors.

Tanner Memory had two hits and drove in two runs for the Vikings. Brown, Russell and Nathan Long also had WCHS hits.

B.J. Patrick took the mound loss for East Columbus, which had opened its season on Monday with an 11-0 thumping of Fairmont (see story on 2B). C.J. Ganus and Caleb Andrews pitched in relief.

Ganus, Andrews and Alex Williamson had hits for Coach Karl Bracey’s East Columbus team, which made a comeback to score two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

East Columbus is scheduled to play host to West Bladen today, and West Columbus, which advances to state 1A finals last spring, will travel to play South Columbus Both games are set to begin at 5 p.m.

Patrick, Ganus (3), Andrews (6) and Malpass; Russell, Nealy (5), Brown (7) and Duncan.