It was one of the earliest showdo
wns on the softball diamond this spring, and Calvin Christian, last year’s Division 3 state runner-up, came from behind to beat upstart Hopkins 9-7 in extra innings.
The Squires, also O-K Silver Conference champions a year ago, knew they had a battle on their hands with a Hopkins group that went 26-11 in the spring of 2016 and was second in the Silver standings. Furthermore, it started the season by sweeping two doubleheaders before spring break.
The Lady Vikings took it to Calvin Christian early, streaking to a 4-1 lead as late as the top of the sixth inning. Hopkins mound ace Hailey Burch sailed through the first five frames, but walked yielded a run in the sixth and walked the first batter of the seventh, followed by a single, then another fielder’s choice. With the bases loaded, a clutch single drove in three runs that tied the game.
“They just started to time up Burch after seeing her five times,” explained coach Casey Schoenborn. “It was an amazing, exciting game.”
Calvin Christian plated four runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Lady Vikings came back with two in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.
Though she tired at the end, Burch threw 8 1/3 innings, gave up 14 hits, walked two and struck out four. Kelsey Dusseau finished the last two-third, not yielding a hit and striking out a batter.
On the offensive side of the ball, Hannah VanDeRoovaert had three singles and an RBI
Pals had a single with two runs batted in.
The loss dropped the Lady Vikings’ season record to 4-1.