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Chisago Lakes 10, North Branch 3

Jess Dittel went 4-for-5, scored four runs, drove in two and stole three bases from her spot at the top of the order to lead the Chisago Lakes Wildcats to a 10-3 win over the North Branch Vikings at North Branch High School.  The Wildcats, who pounded out 18 hits, scored in every inning but the first, and put the game out of reach with a four-run seventh inning.  Makenna Thorsen went the first six innings to pick up the win.  She allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits, walked one and struck out two.  Anna Zaruba saw her first action as a pitcher this season, pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning.  Alyssa Rediske went all the way for the Vikings and took the loss.

The Vikings jumped out to an early lead.  Aubrey Charpentier walked to lead off the bottom of the first, went to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Victoria Thurmer.  After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Thurmer scored one out later when Morgan Mann reached on an error, and the Vikings led 2-0.  In the top of the second, Wildcat Rylan Sheppeck singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Chloe Ruza to cut the Viking lead to 2-1.  Dittel singled to lead off the top of the third, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jesa Leritz and, two outs later, scored on a single by Melana Larson to tie the game at 2-2.  The Wildcat took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the fourth.  Thorsen singled with one out, went to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Dittel.  Dittel stole second and third and scored on a single by Leritz to make the score 4-2.  In the bottom of the inning, Cora Groholski singled, went to third on a single by Ellcey Johnson scored on a groundout by Rediske to cut the Wildcats lead to 4-3.

Larson and Sheppeck opened the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles.  Two outs later, Thorsen singled to drive in Larson.  And in the sixth, Dittel led off with a double, stole third and, one out later, scored on a groundout to short by Zaruba to make it 6-3.  Doubles were the order of business for the Wildcats in the top of the seventh.  Annika Malchow singled to lead off the inning, and Thorsen followed with a double to put runners on second and third.  Annika Smith smacked a two run double to increase the Wildcat lead to 8-3.  Dittel singled to drive in Smith and, one out later, scored on a double by Zaruba to make in 10-3.  Zaruba pitched a 1-2-3 seventh and the Wildcats won.

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