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Patience is a virtue, and it certainly seemed to be the deciding virtue in North Branch’s season-opening 4-1 loss to Irondale on Friday, April 5.

The Knights drew seven walks off of the two North Branch pitchers, Noah Thorsen and Tanner Helin, while the Vikings only were able to work three walks from the Irondale pitching staff.

Thorsen, who at times has battled control issues mixed in with his overpowering stuff, had a few key walks early in the game and that allowed Irondale to jump out to a three run lead after two innings. The Knights scored a pair in first and one in second.

Meanwhile, junior Brady Donnelly of Irondale was on cruise control through the first three innings, only allowing one hit.

In the fourth inning, North Branch star Andrew Orf was hit by a pitch and then stole second base before scoring on a fielders choice to trim the lead to 3-1.

But, Irondale extended their lead back out to three runs in the bottom of the sixth when they got to Helin for an unearned run. He walked two batters and the defense committed an error behind him. He managed to get out of the inning without allowing a hit, but the lead was back to three.

In the seventh, North Branch went down meekly to Luke O’Rourke, who earned the save for the Knights.

North Branch only had two hits on the day, with catcher Lucas Goggin going one-for-two and Helin going one-for-two. As a team, North Branch struck out 12 times with the bottom half of their lineup combing for nine of those K’s.

Thorsen’s final pitching line was five hits, three runs and five walks in five innings. He struck out eight. Helin went one inning, allowing one run on two walks.

The Vikings had two more away games this week, but will open their home schedule on Friday, April 12 against St. Francis at 4:30 p.m.. They’ll host county rival Chisago Lakes on Tuesday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m.

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