The first time the Valley Central Vikings and the Cornwall Dragons met, it took 10 runs for the Vikings to secure a victory.

The second meeting was quite different, as Jason Murphy threw a complete-game shutout in the Vikings’ 4-0 win on Wednesday in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division II baseball game at Cornwall High School in New Windsor.

“This was arguably the best game we put together this season,” Valley Central coach Matt Lennon said. “Definitely against the opponent that we were playing today in Cornwall. We had a tough game against them at the beginning of the season, and we knew going in that they were going to want this one.”

Murphy made sure they didn’t get it. He limited the Dragons to four hits, and only allowed two runners to get as far as second base. He struck out six batters, bringing his career total to 98.

“My fastball was moving pretty well,” Murphy said. “The fielders were everything. I couldn’t do it without them. My shortstop made his plays today and my catcher got me a couple of calls that were borderline, but he squeezed it and got in on the line. Colin Quinn and William Quinn were a big part of this.”

Murphy also helped himself at the plate, starting the Vikings’ two-run fourth inning with a base hit up the middle, and Chris Byrne singled on a swinging bunt up the third-base line. Murphy scored on Trevor Mitchetti’s sacrifice fly and John Wentink singled home Byrne, giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead.

“When we got the lead, it becomes a lot easier pitching, especially with runners on,” Murphy said. “It feels great, especially when you know your stuff is working and your fielders are making plays.”

The Vikings added a run in the fifth inning on Justin Freeman’s RBI single and another in the sixth on Byrne’s sacrifice fly.

“We’re as confident as ever when we have (Murphy) on the mound,” Lennon said. “I think we showed that today. One thing I’m happy about is this team has been through both sides of the spectrum this season, starting off the year with two tough losses and then being able to get in the swing of things.”

The Vikings had come into this week having lost two straight league games to the Warwick Wildcats and Minisink Valley Warriors and got back on the winning track on April 29 with a doubleheader sweep of the Monticello Panthers.

The first game, an 11-0 victory, was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule. The Vikings rode a six-run seventh inning in the second game to pull out a 17-2 victory.

They finished the week with a home game against the Goshen Gladiators, looking to avenge a 4-3 loss on April 16. The Vikings won the game, 10-7.

The win against Cornwall on Wednesday clinched a .500 record in the division, guaranteeing their bid into the Section 9 Class AA tournament.

“That’s big for us,” Murphy said. “I think we can do some serious damage in sections.”