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Spring Lake Park 10, North Branch 3

Although the Spring Lake Park softball team graduated top metro pitcher Sarah DuPaul from last year, they remain a formidable squad, as North Branch found out last week.

This year, the Panthers are doing more damage with their offense, and they jumped out to an early lead over the Vikes with three runs in the opening frame.

Spring Lake Park added two more in the bottome of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.

In the top half of the fourth, North Branch strung together their best inning of the night. Kari Berggren led off with a single, and pinch runner Angie Wishon moved to second base on a groundout by Chelsey Emery-Snaza.

Wishon came all the way around to score when Kallie Grote ripped a double to the gap in outfield. Grote came around to score when Angel Buzay smashed a double of her own in the very next at-bat.

Emily Trunk brought Buzay home with a two-out single, and the lead was cut to 5-3 before the Panthers recorded the third out.

From there, Spring Lake Park took off offensively, and North Branch was stuck in a stand still. The Panthers added one run in the fourth and four runs in the fifth.

Alley Carlson, Berggren and Buzay each had two hits for NB with Trunk, MiKayla Carlson and Grote getting one a piece. Head Coach Ron Trunk also noted that MiKayla Carlson played well at third base, getting five assists and Emery-Snaza was also busy with five assists and a put out at shortstop.

Trunk started the game for North Branch, going two innings. She gave up three runs -- two earned -- on two hits, walking three and striking out one. Kelci Lofboom began pitching in the third and pitched three innings of relief. She gave up seven runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits and one walk. She was saddled with the loss Abby Schraufnagel made her varsity debut, pitching a one-two-three sixth inning for the Vikings.

"We really hit some balls hard today (three doubles) and nine total hits," Trunk said after the loss, NB's fourth straight after opening the season with a victory. "SLP also made some nice plays to end innings with runners in scoring position on hard hit balls."

With some nasty weather earlier this week, North Branch's titlt with Columbia Heights was rained out, and they were scheduled to take on Benilde-St. Margaret's yesterday. If the weather holds up, North Branch is scheduled to host Robbinsdale Cooper Thursday, April 28 at 4:30.

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