By Marty Zier

Sports contributor

Entering his fourth year as head coach, Jason Nichols has a combined 13 years involved with Viking softball. He inherited a very young team upon taking the lead job and has steadily improved the team’s record, ending last year at 4-7 regular season record, which is more wins than the last few years. Facing the challenge of a young team or low numbers has not been unusual for Nichols, but this year his patience is being tested another way.

“Weather has been a nuisance so far as we’ve only been able to be outside once. If the rain holds off we should provide some exciting games at Buck Park this season,” he said.

Nichols sees a competitive year ahead.

“We have a small roster but it’s a good mix of starters and newcomers with potential,” he said. “We have a pretty limited schedule this year but we should be able to compete within our league. We graduated our starting pitcher last year so we are short on experience there, but we have three players ready to jump into that role.”

The Vikings started their season with the Shorewood Jamboree on March 11 and their first regular season contest is a double header at Darrington on April 3.