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Hannah Bernier is in her third year as the ace of the North Branch softball roster, and she may have spun the best game of her career in a 3-0 win over Chisago Lakes Tuesday, April 18.

She held the seventh-ranked Wildcats to no runs on just one hit and one walk and her offense did just enough against CL’s Anna Zaruba to get North Branch the first win of the year in the season opener.

It did help Bernier that she was spotted an early lead as the Vikings scored two in the bottom of the first inning. Erin Pederson belted a one out single to start the rally. Peyton Verdon then muscled a two out single over the infielders to put a runner on first and second with two outs. NB shortstop Kaytlin Hammond came through with a blistering line drive over the centerfielder's head that turned into a bases clearing double. Samantha Schmitt followed with a single, but Zaruba coaxed a strikeout to finally end the inning.

Over the next three innings, Zaruba and Bernier locked horns from the pitcher’s circle, with neither giving much ground. Zaruba scattered two hits over the next three innings while Bernier allowed her one and only hit of the game to Zaruba, a single that was eventually erased when Zaruba was caught stealing second by NB catcher Verdon.

The Vikings added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Aubrey Charpentier led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. After Zaruba got the next two batters swinging, Verdon ripped a single to the center fielder, scoring the speedster Charpentier. Verdon moved to second on the throw home, but the inning ended when the next batter grounded out to Zaruba.

For Chisago Lakes, there wasn’t much going for them at the plate. As the game went on, they did start to hit some balls hard, but the North Branch defense was sharp — especially for an early season game — and made multiple nice plays in both the infield and outfield.

“I thought our defense was lights out, especially since it was one of our first days on the field. We did the little things and came up with some timely hitting,” NB Head Coach Kathy Crudo said. “I thought Hannah did an exceptional job spinning the ball against a very good team. Kaytlin Hammond had some great plays defensively and had that huge two out double in the first to put us on top right away. I thought we ran the bases well and capitalized w every opportunity we had. I don’t expect our defense to be that flawless every game but it was very exciting to see everyone locked in game one.”

Verdon was the star on offense for NB, going two for two with a double, a run and an RBI. Hammond had the big two out double that scored two. On the mound, Bernier went seven innings and gave up one hit and one walk while striking out five Wildcats.

Zaruba went six innings for CL, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. She struck out 11 Viking batters.

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