The area’s finest budding softball rivalry continued on Monday, as the slumping Mascenic Vikings traveled to the surging Wilton-Lyndeborough Warriors.
It was a bright and sunny afternoon up on the Wilton hill, where wind gusts of nearly 40 MPH swirled up the dirt infield, causing players to gird themselves against the flying grit.
The Vikings did themselves in early, allowing Warrior hitters Tesa Simpson and Lexi Balam to reach on errors to start the game. Sara Holka moved them over and Ally Schwab knocked them in, reaching on another Mascenic error.
WLC added a pair in the fourth, as Simpson drove in Julie Joyal. Sam Yurcak was thrown out at the plate on the play, but Balam plated Simpson with a single and WLC had a 4-0 lead.
Mascenic would strike back in the fifth. After Tori Keating singled and Michelle Paradise walked, Sam Bilodeau drove them both in with a sacrifice fly that was thrown away. Maddie Labrie and Casey Wayrynen walked and Raven Comtois drove in Labrie. The Vikes had the tying run in scoring position with two outs, but Melonie Ojala fell victim to the ever-widening strike zone and the threat was over with WLC clinging to a 4-3 lead.
With Balam now on the mound to close things out for WLC, the Vikings went quietly in the sixth and seventh.
Mascenic (8-3) has lost three out of four heading into Wednesday’s game with Conant. The Vikings host Bishop Brady (8-3) on Thursday.
WLC (8-4) travels to dominant Sunapee (13-0) on Thursday. The Lakers have not allowed a run in the past three contests, outscoring opponents 23-0.
Sports Editor Ben Conant can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 226.