Friday Harbor played gracious host for the inter-island softball doubleheader versus our Lady Vikings this last Friday. Coach Harris was pleased with improved play and competitiveness in his Vikings, but the score card ended with two more loses against the Wolverines.

Consistent Viking hitting started the series with singles by Sofie Clure Thixton, Alena Janssen, Kathryn Tidwell and Kirsten Fowler combined with a double by Lana Bronn and an RBI by Alicia Jo Susol.

Despite the effective bat work, the Vikings found themselves behind 1-3 in the fourth inning. Focused and cheered by the vocally creative bullpen, the ladies fought back with hits by Aliviah Garcia and Bronn with RBIs brought home by Susol and Shelbi Rogers making this a game.

Tidwell kept the momentum rolling by smacking a boomer deep into left field in the sixth inning, landing both ball and Wolverine over the fence. As the crowd cheered for the apparent home run, the umpires declared a ground rule double, generating abundant colorful commentary from all present.

In a true act of sportsmanship, the Wolverine coach presented Tidwell the dented ball, attesting at one level majority still ruled. But Wolverine niceties ended quickly. A late game Friday Harbor grand slam home run abruptly ended the Viking comeback, culminating in a 7-11 loss.

Undaunted, the Orcas team fought inning to inning in game two, highlighted initially by double plays and good fielding. In the fourth inning, Rogers connected on her first home run of season, easily lofting the rock over the left field fence, evening the score 2-2. A double by Tidwell and an RBI by Garcia helped the Vikings to a 3-2 lead by the seventh inning. But the Wolverines had one last bite for the Vikings: a short pop fly that dropped untouched between a handful of stunned Vikings, ending the game 3-4.

“We saw marked improvement in battle, fewer errors and we came from behind to lead in both games, which shows maturity and growth,” Harris said. “I am very proud of the girls.”