Viking catcher Maddie Roy held a runner on first base with her quick throw to second base on this play in a game played last week at home. The Vikings head into the playoffs this week, completing the weather-shortened season which was squeezed into three weeks because of the late winter snow.
What do they say about records once playoffs start? Throw them out, right?
That’s just what the 2-9 Cook County High School Viking fast pitch softball team did when they played 10-2 Carlton at Carlton on Wednesday, May 22.
Ninth-grader Alex Slanga pitched the whole game for the Vikings to lead them to the big win.
The Vikings held a 7-6 lead before pulling away to win 10-6 before a stunned Carlton crowd.
The coaches couldn’t be reached for comment because the team was on the road the next day to face Deer River at 4 p.m. and then, win or lose, play Cohasset at 6 p.m. Athletic Director Pam Taylor said she talked to Head Coach Jessie Anderson. “Jessie said the team made just one error the whole game. She said the kids played great ball.”
Throughout this weather shortened season the Vikings have been able to play well in spurts, but one bad inning would undo their good work. Against Carlton, the team didn’t have that inning.
Vikings shut out Mesabi East 7-0
Timely hitting and stalwart pitching led the Vikings to a 7-0 shutout win over the Mesabi East Giants on Friday, May 17.
The game was played in Two Harbors as part of a double header.
Rachel Wieben pitched for the Vikings and also had the hot bat for the team.
Following the game against Mesabi, the Vikings squared off against Two Harbors and lost 19-5.
The next day a tired girls’ team took the field against the Ely Timberwolves in a double header played at home in the rain. The girls fell 17-4 and 15-1 to the tough Timberwolves on a cold, rain-soaked day.
The following was written on Tuesday, May 21 before the late report came in about the playoff win.
The girls’ record is now 2-9 and 1-6 in the Polar League. Records won’t matter when playoffs start, however, and the Vikings showed improvement as they gained a great deal of experience on the diamond. Get rid of that one bad inning or two, and this team can play with anyone. Go Vikings!
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