The South Tahoe softball team came out on top after another hard fought series on the road. The Lady Vikings went 2-1 in the three-game series at Sparks, March 31 through April 1. The game results were 15-5, 7-6 and 12-2, respectively.

The Vikings got things going in game one with a jump-start from the offense. By the third inning, the Vikings had hammered away with their bats, putting 11 on the scoreboard to Sparks one. Sophomore Sydney McCarthy enjoyed her first home run of the season, going 2-for-4, with two hits and three RBIs.

“Friday’s game we needed players to step up,” said head coach Eric Owens. “Sydney McCarthy, Teagan Williamson, Hailey Naccarato and Drue Chapman did just that as our hitters put up 15 runs.”

Naccarato gave her batting average an impressive boost in game one. The sophomore went 4-for-5, with four hits, one run and four RBIs. Chapman was hanging right there with Naccarato, going 3-for-4 in the game. The senior had three hits, one run and three RBIs. Williamson added more runs for the Vikings, going 3-for-4, with three hits, four runs and two RBIs. Starting pitcher Kendra Conrad helped on the defensive side, holding Sparks to seven hits and five runs.

Game two was a heart-breaker for the Vikings and squashed their hopes of a sweep. South Tahoe maintained a slight lead early in the game, but let it slip away in the bottom of the third when Sparks lit up their bats. Sparks, feeling the pressure of another possible loss, rallied and put five runs up that inning, making it a 5-3 game.

“Saturday we had a game plan to sweep and built up a 3-0 lead but kept hitting the ball to their defense and could not get the bat’s hot,” said Owens. “Some miscues allowed Sparks in the game.”

There was a brief moment of hope when South Tahoe started chipping away at Sparks’ lead. Conrad and McCarthy had a home run each to help put South Tahoe back on top, 6-5, at the top of the seventh; Sparks, not going down without a fight, eventually brought two girls home to take game two.

Game three saw a focused South Tahoe, determined to not let the series slip away. After a sluggish start offensively, gathering only two runs by the fourth inning, the Vikings were trying their best to increase their lead. It took a few innings, but the Vikings eventually put up enough runs to relax a little. The Vikings added seven runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to finish the series. Senior Samantha Kallas was leading the offensive drive, going 3-for-3, with three hits, two runs and two RBIs. Naccarato went 3-for-5 in the game, with three hits, one run and three RBIs. Senior Brooke Erdody added to South Tahoe’s tally, going 2-for-4, with two hits, two runs and two RBIs. Conrad went 1-for-1, with one hit, two runs and two RBIs. Conrad’s defensive efforts shined through in the last game. The senior had 12 strikeouts and allowed Sparks only two hits.

“The teams we are facing in this part of our schedule we need to play with confidence and expect to win these games,” said Owens. “Improvements are coming together and we are starting to play as a team as roles are being identified.”

The Vikings are now 4-5-0 in league play and are ranked fourth. The team will host the Truckee Wolverines, April 7 through 8, for its next series.