The Vikings get fired up before taking the field (L-R) Megan Lehto and CeCe Schnobrich touch gloves, while Kristina Rude, catcher Anna Carmen and Katie VanderHeiden, pointing to the sky, join in the party.
The Cook County girls’ softball team ended their game early against the Ely Timberwolves last Saturday after they outscored their opponents 11-1 through five innings. It was the first time the Vikings have 10-runned an opponent this season.
The win sent the Vikings into the play-offs with a 5-10 record.
Once again Kristina Rude pitched a masterful game for the Vikes. She shut the Timberwolves out completely until the 5th inning when she gave up one run. For the game Rude gave up three hits and struck out four batters.
Meanwhile the Vikings’ bats came alive, with six players getting at least one hit. CeCe Schnobrich was 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs, while Rude was 2-4 with one home run and three RBIs. The other Vikings to get hits were Brea Boomer, Theresa Morrin, Alexis Eliasen, and Rachel Wieben. Boomer and Morrin each had two RBIs.
Season ends at Silver Bay
The Vikings’ softball season came to an end on Monday when they lost to their archrivals, the Silver Bay Mariners in the first round of the Section 7A playoffs.
Theresa Morrin focuses on the ball just before she whacks it a mile. Okay, a half mile, but Morrin got a nice single on this trip to the plate.
Despite the loss, the Vikings played a very good game. Both the CeCes—Schnobrich and Olsen—played great defense. Kristina Rude pitched a solid game and the Vikings hit well, but the Mariners were just a little better and beat the Vikings 8-4.
The Vikings ended their season with 5 wins against 10, and finished 3-9 in conference play.
Next season looks good for the Vikings, who sported a young roster this year. Only four players graduate, Brea Boomer, Kristina Rude, Chelsey Sorensen and Taryn Logan, and although their talents will be sorely missed, the Vikes look to fill the gap with several junior high players who stepped up and filled in for injured or sick varsity players and gained crucial varsity experience. These kids showed they had plenty of talent and could play, and they contributed a lot when they got their turn at bat or in the field. The team returns about a dozen players who range from seventh to tenth grades. Several junior high players filled in for injured or sick varsity players this year and more than held their own. Head coach Jessie Anderson has a lotto look forward to. Now, if the weather can only be a little better. The team battled cold, snow, wind and rain as much or more than their opponents. All things being even, they fared well for how little they got to practice outside.
CeCe Olsen had an outstanding day fielding the ball in the Vikings’ win against Ely. Olsen, like many of her teammates, missed a couple of games due to injuries in this weather-shortened softball season. She is just a junior and will be back next year for the Vikings.
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