The Viking girls softball team (1-5) had a challenging three-game week, dropping contests to Concrete, La Conner and Cedar Park Christian Bothell.

On April 8, the Vikings fell to the (4-3) Concrete Lions 11-7 in a game “that got away from us” said coach Jason Nichols.

“We were up 5-1 in the third inning and we lost focus. We have to learn to close out games,” Nichols said. “We had a pitching change late in the game that adversely affected our defense, so that’s always a risk.”

Viking hitting was highlighted by Alicia Susol who went 3/3, an RBI and two singles, Bella Nigretto who was 3/4 with two RBI’s, two doubles and a triple and Bethany Hansen who went 2/4 with two singles.

On April 11 the Vikings lost a battle at home to the (8-2) La Conner Braves 9-4.

Despite the loss, Nichols said “We did pretty good actually.”

“We were short a starter and pitcher Emily Nichols pitched all seven innings and our defense is getting cleaner,” he said. “We ran out of gas but I believe the Braves are a team we can beat.”

Viking hits came from Alenna Garcia who went 3/4 with a triple and two singles, Alicia Susol who hit 2/4 with two singles and Bethany Hansen who hit 2/4 with two RBI’s.

On April 12, the girls made the trip to Cedar Park Christian Bothell for a 8-6 loss to the Eagles.

The Vikings arrived to find an artificial turf field, a major missing piece of information that prohibited the use of the girl’s metal cleats.

“It was pretty goofy, assistant coaches were giving players their tennis shoes, kids scrambling to find their street shoes, but the girls just adapted,” said Nichols.

Ironically, he said despite the travel, two games in a row, the cleat issue, short a starter,  “This was the best all around game we’ve played all year. The girls rose above all the issues. I am very optimistic about how we’ll match up with the rest of the league.”

Vikings highlights included two home runs by Alica Susol, Bethany Hansen’s first big league home run and an RBI single by Kilee Rogers.

The Vikings will next take an emotional trip to Darrington to play the Loggers. Viking athletes recently raised $5,000 to help the Red Cross relief efforts for mudslide victims.