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Cambridge-Isanti 6, North Branch 3

The North Branch softball team took on Highway 95 rival Cambridge-Isanti in a non-conference match up to open the season last week.

It was a stiff test early in the season as Cambridge-Isanti has some strong pitching, and a good gauge of a team they may have to play in the postseason.

North Branch opened the game's scoring with back-to-back singles by Chelsey Emery-Snaza and Emily Trunk. Tiffany Anderson hit into a fielders choice, with Trunk being tossed out at second base on the play.

Alley Carlson, who had a breakout year last season, swatted a single to the outfield that scored Emery-Snaza.

Cambridge-Isanti took the lead for good, though, in the top of the fourth inning. They scored twice after three singles and a North Branch error.

The Bluejackets stretched that one-run lead to five when they made it 6-1 in the sixth inning. They collected four hits in the inning, as well as a walk and an error by NB.

North Branch made a little noise in the bottom of the seventh inning when they scored two runs. Trunk led off with a double and a ground out allowed her to move up to third base. Kelci Lofboom drew a walk from the C-I hurler, and a single by Kayla Merschdorf and an error on the Bluejacket rightfielder brought both Trunk and Lofboom home to trim the lead to 6-3.

The Vikes couldn't muster any more offense, though, and moved to 0-1 on the season.

Lofboom took the loss for the Vikings, going six innings and giving up six runs (four earned) on 10 hits. She walked six batters and struck out another five. Trunk pitched a flawless seventh inning in her first work of the year on the mound.

Both Chelsea Tollberg and Trunk went 2-for-3, and Trunk scored a run. Carlson, Lofboom, Merschdorf, Ashley King and Emery-Snaza were the other Vikings to record hits.

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