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7AAA Sub-Sections

First Round-

North Branch 2

Grand Rapids 1

According to the “experts”, North Branch didn’t have a chance. Seeded seventh in the section, number two seed Grand Rapids was just too good, too powerful, too talented....too much hype.

The Vikings didn’t buy into the hype, that’s for certain. Instead, North Branch played their game, playing it all the way to a 2-1 upset win, easily the Vikings most impressive win yet.

“We got on the bus for a three plus hour ride to Grand Rapids. The talk on the bench was that we didn’t come all that way to lose,” remarked Larry Brodin, North Branch head softball coach. “Having only won five games during the season you wondered if they could make it stick- but they did.”

Yes they did.

Tiffany Good played a huge role. Good got the start on the mound and pitched solidly, giving up just four hits. Good also struck out two and most importantly, she didn’t walk a single batter.

“She kept throwing strikes and the defense did the rest, playing an error-less game,” commented Brodin. “It seemed like every player on the field had a hand in one or more good play to keep the team in the game.”

Meanwhile on offense, after failing to score in the fourth, leaving runners at second and third, the Vikings broke open a scoreless game in the fifth thanks to a Dottie Graff double that scored Alyssa Peterson from second.

Grand Rapids came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run.

But in the sixth, North Branch made their final move, scoring the eventual game-winner. With runners at first and third, a ground ball from Gabi Olson allowed Maggie Johnson to score from third, making the score 2-1.

The lead held. Good and the Vikings got Grand Rapids out in order in the sixth. Then in the seventh, after allowing a lead-off hit, Good got the Thunderhawks’ four, five and six hitters to fly out to end the game.

The win moved the Vikings into the sections “final eight” in Duluth.

Note:

The Vikings season came to an end Saturday in Duluth. North Branch fell to Big Lake 2-0 in the first round of the section 7AAA tournament. The Vikings then lost to Duluth Central in the losers bracket 4-1, eliminating then from the tournament. A complete wrap-up of the tournament will be in next week’s edition of the Press.

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