by Marty Zier

Sports contributor

The Lady Vikings softball team continued preparation for league play with two non-league wins against Squalicum High School on March 24 in Bellingham.

The Vikings dominated both games, according to coach Kevin White.

“In game one, Flora Lister was the winning pitcher with three innings, seven strikeouts, three walks and no hits or runs allowed in a 21-0 win,” he said. “We had eight hits and eight RBIs behind Katy Minnis and Lindsey Simpson with two hits each. In game two, Portia White pitched two innings and had two strikeouts and one walk. Lister closed the game with two innings pitched with five strikeouts and one walk leading to a 20-0 win.”

White said the Squalicum games were helpful for the team.

“It was nice to get to play a little preseason ball and kick off the regular season this week against Darrington and Concrete,” he said. “We are eager to get started. The Squalicum games were great preparation since we got in some substitutions and our whole roster had some great at-bats and some very good base running to get us ready.”

The Orcas Island Rowing team hosted the “Dual Duel” with Lake Stevens Rowing at Cascade Lake on Saturday, March 24. It was the first regatta for the Vikings’ 2018 season, and consisted of novice and varsity sculling races in singles (1x), 2x (double) and 4x (quads) and 4x+ (quads with a coxswain) over a buoy marked 1000 meter course.

The Island Madness Indoor Rowing Fest was held early morning the next day at Camp Orkila, where rowers tested their ability and endurance in a 2000 meter ergometer (erg) competition. Orcas rowers Luke Pietsch and Joie Zier won the varsity erg competitions.

Orcas Rowing will continue training for the Covered Bridge Regatta at Dexter Lake, Oregon and Spring Springs at Lake Stevens, Washington in preparation for U.S. Rowing NW Regional Youth Championships at Lake Vancouver, Washington May 18-20.

Orcas Island Rowing is private, non profit organization with a coaching staff led by former U.S. Olympic rower Tina Brown and original team founders Mike Reid and Dave Roseberry. Guest coaches this season are former coach George Andreadis and Orcas Rowing alumni and former University of Washington men’s team crew member Jake Zier.