Photo by Bruce Johnson CeCe Schnobrich at bat for the Cook County Viking Softball team. The Vikings had a tough week, losing three games, but the girls finished strong with a ten-run win over Babbitt on Monday, May 11.
The Cook County softball team had a tough week, losing three of their four games in a busy five-day stretch of competition. On Thursday May 7, the Vikings played two back-to-back games on the road against Esko and then later in the day at Floodwood. The very next day, Cook County lost at home to Lakeview Christian Academy. On Monday, the Vikings went to Babbitt and won in decisive fashion, 11-1.
Esko
Due to scheduling conflicts with make-up dates due to a rainout, a previously scheduled home game against Esko was rescheduled for the Vikings to play in Esko at noon before moving on to play in Floodwood later in the afternoon.
Esko entered the game with a very strong team and an undefeated Polar League record to prove it. TheEskimos started scoring early, collecting six runs in the first two innings while the Vikings could only muster a Brea Boomer single on offense.
After a scoreless third inning, the Vikings got on the scoreboard when Kristina Rude led off the fourth inning with a double. Senior catcher Kari Nelson followed with an RBI single to cut the Esko lead to 1-6.
The Eskimos then took over, scoring nine runs in the final two innings to win 1-15 in five innings. Carly Puch and Mary Curtis each had two hits for the Vikings.
Floodwood
The Vikings got on the bus after their game in Esko and made the short trip over to Floodwood for their second game of the day. Carly Puch pitched against Esko, so senior Katy Borud would now get her chance against the Polar Bears of Floodwood.
Cook County jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead when they scored two runs in each of the first two innings. TheVikings took advantage of three Floodwood fielding errors as Puch and Rude scored to start the game and then Puch followed up a strong first inning by driving in two more runs in the second.
Borud cruised along on the mound until a leadoff walk in the third inning resulted in a Floodwood run after a costly Viking fielding error. Leading 4-1, the Vikings were unable to score in either the fourth of fifth innings.
Floodwood scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as another leadoff walk turned into trouble when the Vikings committed two infield fielding errors that produced two more Floodwood runs. The Vikings were now clinging to a 4-3 lead after five innings of play.
After the Vikings failed to score in the sixth inning, the Polar Bears took advantage, scoring three more runs off of a walk and two more fielding errors. Floodwood then shut down Cook County in the seventh to win 4-6.
The story for the game was five fielding errors for the Vikings in crucial situations with runners in scoring position. Puch led the Vikings with two RBIs and a run scored.
Lakeview Christian Academy
Katy Borud was back on the mound the next day for Cook County. Borud looked good to start, getting the first two Lakeview hitters to groundout. Two Cook County fielding errors cost the Vikings, however, as LCA scored one run before Borud struck out the Lions’ fifth hitter.
TheVikings answered in the bottom of the inning when Puch drew a walk to start the inning. Following a Cook County strikeout, Rude answered with a hard hit RBI double. Two hitters later, Sammy Jacobsen got an RBI as the Vikings took a 2-1 lead.
After two quick outs in the third inning, LCA strung together five straight hits to score three runs and take a 2-4 lead. Neither team could score in the fourth or fifth innings as the Lions maintained their two run lead.
Lakeview then scored two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to take a commanding 2-8 lead. The Vikings’ Ailee Larson scored in the bottom half of the seventh but it was the only run Cook County could get, losing 3-8 in seven innings of play.
The Vikings struck out eleven times and had only three hits against Lakeview’s ace pitcher, Anna Broman.
Babbitt
On Monday, May 11, the Vikings traveled to Babbitt for a non-conference game against the Knights. Back-to-back singles by Puch and Boomer started things off for Cook County. After two outs, Jacobsen came through in the clutch with a double that scored both base runners for an early Viking lead, 2-0.
Borud gave up one run in the bottom of the first, but the Vikings answered with five runs in the top of the second when Cook County used three hits, a walk, and two Babbitt errors to take a 7-1 lead.
Babbitt was easily retired by Borud in the bottom of the second. The Vikings kept the pressure on as Curtis ignited the Cook County offense with a one out triple. Carly Puch then reached base and Boomer followed with a triple, giving the Vikings a 9-1 lead.
The Vikings added two more runs in the fourth inning and Borud took care of the rest on the mound as Cook County won 11-1 in five innings. Boomer had a big game for Cook County going three for four with two RBIs. Jacobsen was also key, going three for three with three RBIs.
Cook County played in Two Harbors on this past Thursday after this edition went to press. Look in next week’s edition for all the scores and highlights.
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