Above: Looking determined, Hanna Borson drove this ball for a single in the game against Moose Lake/Willow River. Right: Behind this cloud of dust is Jamie Johnson sliding hard to avoid the tag from the catcher. When the dust settled the umpire called Johnson safe.
Except for one bad inning, the Viking softball team could have won three straight games this past week.
On Saturday, May 7, the girls traveled to Ely to play the always-competitive Timberwolves. “Both teams had a lot of errors in this game,” said Head Coach Jessie Anderson. “But our girls really had a good day at the plate.”
The Vikings came away with a 10-7 victory.
Trace McQuatters led Viking batters with two doubles and a single. “Trace had a great day at the plate for us,” said Coach Anderson.
Hanna Borson finished with two singles. Maddy Roy had a double and a single. Alex Slanga drove in two RBIs with a single. Maranda Deschampe singled and drove in two runs. Mariah Deschampe singled and drove in two runs, Jamie Johnson singled, Hannah Toftey singled and Abbie Crawford also singled in the game.
“The only one who didn’t get a hit was Alyssa Spry, but Alyssa always finds a way to get on base, either through a walk or she gets hit, and once she’s on base she does a great job for us,” Coach Anderson said.
Alex Slanga took the win for the Vikings on the mound.
Vikings 13, Silver Bay 10
Senior Maddy Roy led the Vikings to a win against their toughest rival, the Silver Bay Mariners on May 9 at Silver Bay. Roy, an outstanding catcher, finished the game with a triple and two singles.
“Maddy just missed a home run,” said Anderson. “She hit the top of the fence. It was close. One of these days she will hit one out.
“Silver Bay always plays us tough,” said Coach Anderson. “They make us nervous, especially when they get on base. They did that to us early in the game. They got a few runners on base and we had some throwing errors and they scored three runs. Once we settled down we were all right.”
Trace McQuatters tripled in the contest. Hanna Borson singled and Maranda Deschampe singled in the game.
Again, Alex Slanga took the win for the Vikings.
Vikings lose to Moose Lake/Willow River
The final 13-7 score doesn’t reflect how close this game really was. After five innings the teams were tied 3-3 but Moose Lake/ Willow River turned a couple of Viking errors into six runs.
The game was played at home on Tuesday, May 10.
“This was a tough loss for us. They are a double A school and they have 10-runned us quite a few times,” said Anderson. “It was good to be in a close game with them, but it would have been better to win. Still, I am proud of our girls. Even after their big inning we battled back and scored three runs.”
Moose Lake/Willow River tacked four more runs on in the seventh and Cook County added one more to make the final 13-7 score.
“Before the game I asked Alex how her arm felt and she said it was a little sore but she felt she could go. Overall I was happy with her performance. She has been an iron man for us.”
With the regular season winding down Anderson said she has been pleased with her team’s progress.
“Maranda Deschampe is hitting better than ever. Trace is really starting to hit as well. Hanna [Borson] has turned into a good lead–off hitter and Maddy has really found her hitting stroke. Jamie Johnson is playing good defense and Abbie Crawford is getting better and better at shortstop. Abbie has replaced Hannah Toftey at shortstop because Hannah has a torn rotator cuff. Hannah Toftey can bat, but she is done playing shortstop for the year. Abbie is also learning how to pitch and she has really good velocity. It will be exciting to see how she progresses as a pitcher.”
The Vikings’ record is now 5-5.
The Vikings have two home games left before playoffs. The first is May 19 against Silver Bay and the second will be played the following day against Two Harbors. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.
Come out and cheer for your Vikings!
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