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NB softball eliminated in section 7AA playAfter defeating Monticello in the opening round of the section 7AA tournament, the North Branch softball squad went on to be eliminated in the 7AA tournament Saturday, May 24 in Grand Rapids. North Branch had only three base runners in the game, the first coming in the first inning as Christina Sampson reached on an error and later advanced to second. The Vikes stranded another runner in the sixth and one more in the seventh in the loss. Cloquet picked up 2 runs in the third and 1 run in the fourth, only one of them earned. OíHern pitched a strong game for the Vikings, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 2. Sampson, OíHern and Abby Fairbanks picked up the lone hits for the Vikes in the game. In the second game of the day, North Branch faced Princeton and came out on the winning end in a 5-3 game. The Tigers were on the board early, as the leadoff runner scored in the first for a 1-0 lead. The Vikes came back to score 3 in the third on singles from OíHern, Katie Paulson and Heather Peterson, and walk to Brooke Beaver and Lindsey Larson. Princeton tied the game with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning, before North Branch answered with another run in the fourth. In the inning, Nikki Scaramell reached on a fielderís choice and came around to score on a double from Sampson. North Branch added another run in the fifth, as Paulson hit her second single and advanced on wild pitches and a single from Scaramell. The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to Cambridge-Isanti to end the day. The Bluejackets took a 6-0 lead after three innings. North Branch came back to score 2 runs in the fifth as Larson reached on an error and reached home on a single from Scaramell. Peterson singled to score Scaramell in the inning. Beaver started and went three innings for the loss, striking out 3. OíHern finished the game for the Vikes, striking out 2. The team was lacking the presence of seniors Traci Reimann and Sarah Rauen in the games, who were both unavailable due to family commitments. Head Coach Larry Brodin said the team should be proud of how they finished the season. ìIím not disappointed in the way we played,î he said. ìMaking it to the fourth round of the playoffs, it was a good year.î The team will graduate seven seniors this year: Reimann, Rauen, Sampson, Scaramell, Peterson, Beaver and Alison Trampe. ©ECM Post Review |