The Vikings shut out the Annville-Cleona Dutchmen 11-0 Thursday afternoon in a much needed victory.
Northern Lebanon’s young team had started the season 1-3, losing all of three games to 5A squads such as Donegal, Manheim Central, and Lampeter-Strasburg. But the game Thursday was a much different outcome.
Both teams had to play without their head coaches. NL coach Ed Spittle sat out with the flu, and A-C coach Nicki Starry couldn’t be there because of a family emergency.
NL came out of the gates hot, scoring three runs in the first inning against Dutchmen pitcher Kaila Grubb. The first inning start was led by hits from Summer Bohr, Sydney Mengel, and Hannah Heagy.
Senior Melanie Showers was able to pitch comfortably throughout the game, as the team continued to contribute on the offensive side. The Vikes played great defense with one error, and getting out of two bases loaded situations. Mengel made a nice stop at third base, and Hannah Bashore made another to stop a couple potential scoring threats for the Dutchmen.
Offensively during the third inning, NL tagged along two more runs with the help of Kelliher’s deep triple. The girls broke out in the fifth with three more runs, with contributions from Lindsey McFeaters, Bohr, Kelliher, and Taylor Douple. Then finally in the sixth, NL pulled away with the tenth and eleventh runs of the ball game.
“We played really well today,” Showers stated. “We played well defensively and hit the ball really well. Everybody contributed.”
The Vikings definitely had a great team effort today only allowing four hits, but then having fourteen of their own. This performance is an example of what the girls team can do when they all play well together. With the win today their record falls at 2-3.
The Vikings have about “nine games in the next 11 days.” The team also expects head coach Spittle to be back for the next game on Wednesday. This game may have gave the Vikings the boost they needed heading into the next long stretch of games.
Emma Kelliher stated, “We’ve been working really hard and today we came together as a team both offensively and defensively.” Kelliher stole the show today hitting 3-for-3 with a triple. But she was well supported with two-hit performances from five other players.
NL has a very young and talented softball team, and they have the potential to go far in the playoffs. Everyone returned from last year’s team who qualified for districts. And they added more talent with freshman Bohr, and junior Hazy, who transfered from Virginia. The team only has two seniors, but the team has a great cast of girls with the ability and fire power to succeed their accomplishments from last season.
The Vikings are going to be a fun team to watch throughout the spring.