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North Branch 4

Chisago Lakes 3

What a time to make it stick.

This season, and even last year, the Vikings have made several comebacks. Unfortunately, most of those comebacks ended in a loss because the Vikings failed to hold on. However last Thursday against rival Chisago Lakes, the Vikings staged another comeback, holding on this time. Down 3-0 at one point, North Branch scored the final four runs of the game to steal a 4-3 win, their first win of the season. Meanwhile, the Wildcats fell to 2-3 on the year.

It was all Chisago early as they scored one run in each of the first three innings. Batting in the top of the first, Rachel Nelson (the senior) drove in the first run of the game with a single. One inning later, Brittany Lofgren made it 2-0 with another single, this time scoring Diane Reineccius. Not done yet, another single by Nelson produced another run in the top of the third, making the score 3-0 after three.

However, as good as things were going for Steve Fisher and his team, a season-long problem was starting to float to the surface- again. Despite scoring three, by the time the fourth inning rolled around, the Wildcats had left six runners on base.

North Branch was more than willing to take advantage of that.

The Vikings began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, trimming the Chisago lead to 3-2. After a one-out single by Megan Ranger, Heather Hoveland ripped a triple to the fence in centerfield, scoring Ranger from second. Up next was Gabi Olson who lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield that was deep enough to score Hoveland from third for the Vikings second run of the game.

The game stayed 3-2 until the sixth. While the ‘Cats couldn’t buy a run, leaving two runners on base in both the fifth and sixth, the Vikings came through with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead.

Once again, Hoveland was a part of the action. The Vikings third baseman banged out her third hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners at first and third. From there, Olson reached on an infield single, loading the bases for Tiffany Good.

Like a seasoned veteran, Good came through in the clutch, singling in Maggie Johnson and Hoveland, putting the Vikings in front 4-3 heading into the seventh.

Batting in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats managed back-to-back singles with two outs before a ground ball ended the game, giving North Branch a 4-3 win.

“Our execution in the field and at the plate was the best it has been this season,” mentioned Larry Brodin, North Branch head softball coach. “It’s always nice to win one of the close ones to get your confidence.”

It was a tremendous pitching duel. Rachel Nelson (the seventh-grader) suffered the loss despite allowing seven hits while striking out one. On the other side, Stephanie Saxe was great for the Vikings. Saxe pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. She also struck out three and walked four.

At the plate, both teams finished the game with seven hits.

Rachel Nelson (the senior) led Chisago with two hits and two RBI’s. However, the ‘Cats 2-4 hitters finished the game 0-9.

For North Branch, Good finished the game with two RBI’s. Hoveland led the team in the hit department, finishing with three.

North Branch 4

Chisago Lakes 3

R H

Chisago Lakes 111 000 0 3 7

North Branch 000 202 X 4 7

Chisago Lakes

Lofgren 2-4, RBI

Novak 0-3, R

Reed 1-2, R

Baumgard 0-4

Nelson 2-4, 2 RBI

Oehme 1-4

Peterson 0-2

Reineccius 0-2, R

Swanberg 1-3

LP: R. Nelson (2-3)

6 IP, 7 H, K, BB

North Branch

Graff 0-3

Saxe 0-3

Johnson 0-2, R

Ranger 1-2, R

Hoveland 3-3, RBI, 2 R

Olson 1-3, RBI

Good 2-3, 2 RBI

Sonnenfeld 1-3

Nelson 0-2

WP: Saxe

7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 K, 4 BB

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