Above: Abbie Crawford took a big swing, fouling off this ball. Right: Going into her full windup, Viking pitcher Hannah Toftey gets ready to deliver a pitch against the Silver Bay Mariners with Ella Sporn looking on.
Few places on the planet are colder than the Grand Marais Recreation Park when it comes to places where people play fast pitch softball, but that is where the Vikings’ home field is, and that is where home games are played. With that, a cold hard wind blew off of Lake Superior and made the low 40 degree F temperatures feel colder than it was for the Vikings’ Tuesday, April 11 home opener against rival Silver Bay Mariners.
With the graduation last year of starting pitcher Alex Slanga, the Vikings pitched Hannah Toftey and Abby Prom, and both experienced some first game jitters. Silver Bay batters took advantage of those jitters, getting on base through walks and then used some timely hitting to win 19-1 in five innings.
Maranda Deschampe went 2-2 from the plate with a double and received the Vikings’ lone RBI. “Maranda almost hit one out of the park. A couple of feet higher and her double would have gone over the fence for a home run,” said assistant coach Dick Dorr. “She also had a couple of outstanding fielding plays at third base.”
Everly Bauck and Cora Carter each had four RBIs for the Mariners.
Peter Lucken, the Vikings’ first-year head coach said he thought his team fielded well, and once his pitchers settle into a groove, the fielders will get to make more plays. “The kids made a lot of nice plays, but we did suffer from first game nerves,” Lucken said.
The Vikings started Mariah Deschampe at first base; Ella Sporn at second base; Abbie Crawford at shortstop; Maranda Deschampe at third base; Alyssa Spry at catcher; Hannah Toftey starting pitcher; Hanna Borson in right field; Jamie Johnson center; and Abby Prom in left field.
The Vikings played Carlton in Carlton on Thursday, April 13 and the next home game is Tuesday, April 18 against Floodwood. The game starts at 4 p.m. Come out and cheer for your Vikings!
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