Softball looks to finish season at the top in RRC

The North Branch softball squad picked up another Rum River Conference win last week, but also suffered its second conference loss. Only two games remain in its regular season schedule, as the Vikes look to hold on to a share of first place in the RRC.
Last week, the team improved to 6-1 with a win over Mora, then fell against Milaca.
North Branch 3 Mora 1
The Vikings had excellent scoring chances in the first and second innings, but were unable to bring a run home.
In the first, Nikki Scaramell and Traci Reimann reached on walks and Heather Peterson reached on a single for a bases-loaded opportunity. Again in the second runners reached second and third as Kassie Cardelli singled, Scaramell walked and both advanced on a wild pitch.
Mora took a 1-0 lead in the second on back-to-back singles. Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning, before the Vikes tied it up in the fifth.
Reimann and Sarah Rauen reached on errors and advanced on a single from Christina Sampson. Reimann scored on a wild throw at home to tie the score at 1-1.
The Vikes sealed the win with 2 more in the sixth, both coming on two outs. Dottie Graff and Scaramell singled and both scored on a triple from Peterson for the 3-1 win.
The Mustangs threatened by coming up with 3 hits in the sixth, but the Vikings defense held tough for the win.
Brooke Beaver pitched the complete game for North Branch, allowing 6 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2. Peterson led the offense going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
North Branch 1 Milaca 11
The Vikings struggled from the beginning in a 5-inning 11-1 loss to Milaca May 8.
The Wolves came up with 2 runs in the first for an early lead, before North Branch tallied its lone run in the third. The run came after Peterson led off with a triple and scored on a single from Rauen.
Milaca answered it by adding 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 5-1, and sealed the win with 6 more runs in the fourth to win by the 10-run rule.
The Vikings totalled only 5 hits in the game ñ a triple from Peterson, and singles from Rauen, Graff, Cardelli and Shannon OíHern. The team also looked flat in the field, committing 6 errors.
Beaver gave up 7 hits, 1 walk and earned 1 strikeout. OíHern pitched the final inning, giving up 2 hits.
ìWe just did not come out ready this time,î Head Coach Larry Brodin said.
The games give the Vikes a 6-2 RRC record, 7-8 record overall. This week, the team played Pine City Tuesday and faced Chisago Lakes Thursday to round out the regular season. Subsection play is set to begin Tuesday, May 20.

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