NORTHAMPTON — The Smith Vocational baseball team secured a 13-0 victory over Sci-Tech in a five-inning, run-ruled affair on Wednesday at Arcanum Field. The Vikings ran their record to a perfect 10-0, their second consecutive 10-0 start to a season.

The win also extended their streak of dominant offensive performances, as they have won all of their 10 games this season via the mercy rule.

Their staggering run-differential has stood out thus far this season — they've outscored opponents 145-2 through those 10 games.

On the offensive end, it's been about setting the tone early, just as they did against Sci-Tech on Wednesday. Marshall Ingram and Rosco Palmer each had two hits and scored five of the Vikings’ 13 runs out of the 1-2 spots in the Smith Voc lineup.

Ingram said mindset has been a huge part of the team’s approach at the plate this spring.

“I think our mentality is just if you get the pitch, hit. You know if it's there, go for it and we've really [followed] that as a team,” Ingram said. “We've really gelled as a team and we're really trusting each other at the plate to do what we gotta do.”

On the mound, it's been arguably even more impressive as the pitching staff has allowed just two total runs all year, including a no-hitter by Ingram. 

That success continued on Wednesday as sophomore James Lavallee enjoyed another impressive outing on the rubber.

Lavallee dazzled as he struck out 12 batters over five innings, while giving up just one hit. 

Lavallee said he knows that as the offense starts to score runs it only helps him every time he takes the mound.

“Oh, it's a big confidence [boost],” Lavallee said. “When you have the lead, you just want to throw strikes and get your team back in there to get more runs.” 

Although it's tough to argue with the numbers, it's something that doesn't show up in the scorebook that head coach Luis Bonilla believes has played a big part in the team’s success. With only two non-returners from last year's team, the Vikings’ chemistry is the one of the main proponents in the team being where they are. 

“Honestly, it's about the decisions I've made over the years [specifically] taking freshmen,” Bonilla said. “A lot of these guys have been playing with me for three years, four years [and so] the chemistry is amazing. They all have a great time.” 

Last year, the Vikings got off to a blazing 15-0 start before losing three games and finishing 19-3 overall. Although they took home the school’s first State Vocational Tournament title, they fell in the Round of 32 of the MIAA Division 5 state tournament to Carver, ending their season.

Although Bonilla is pleased with his team's start, he knows that the stakes only go up come postseason time, and his club needs to be prepared for the stiffened competition in the state tournament.

“Well, to be honest, right now we haven't even played a full game yet. I'm hoping we get one good, solid game. I want these guys to get challenged,” Bonilla said. “We haven't pitched seven innings, you know what I mean? So I really do want these guys to get challenged. I want to win by one run.”

Many of the players returning felt that heartbreak a year ago and know this season has the potential to be even better.

“We're just gonna take it one game at a time,” said Ingram, who wants to end his senior year on a positive note. “Every team is getting better, just like we are, and hopefully this year we can finish as strong as we started.”

In Wednesday’s win, the Vikings led 6-0 into the fourth inning before a seven-run bottom of the frame put things well out of reach. Carter Blanchette doubled and scored two runs for the Vikings, while Pat Millan was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Next up for Smith Voc is a home game on Monday against Commerce.

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