Viking softball splits season opener on indoor diamond
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ROSEMOUNT, MN — Despite snow-covered fields and cold temperatures, the Colfax softball team was able to open its 2024 campaign last Thursday.
The Vikings had to go indoors to accomplish it.
Playing inside the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, MN, Colfax participated in a triangular against host Grantsburg and Pepin/Alma. The Vikings earned a split in the March 28 contests as they edged the Eagles of Pepin/Alma 7-5 in the opener but fell 8-4 to the Lady Pirates from Grantsburg in their second game.
In the season opener against Pepin/Alma, Colfax pitcher Laikyn Beyer allowed just six hits and five runs (only one of which was earned) and tallied five strikeouts against one walk to pick up her first win.
Beyer also helped her own cause at the plate as she finished the game with a pair of hits in three at-bats, scoring a pair of runs and driving in two others. Senior shortstop Jada Anderson also went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Eagles with a Run Batted In (RBI) and a run scored. Brynn Sikora, who caught for Beyer, had a hit, a walk, scored two runs and stole a pair of bases. Outfielders Hannah Peterson (CF) and Aubrey Ebert (LF) both finished with a hit in three plate appearances and tallied two RBIs; Peterson also finished with a stolen base. Senior infielder McKenna Shipman (2B) scored a pair of runs and stole a base despite finishing the game without a hit.
In the night cap, Shipman and Sikora both went 2-for-2 at the plate with extra base hits, but it was not enough to push the Vikings past Grantsburg.
Despite a home run and a double by Brynn Sikora which resulted in three RBIs and a double off the bat of McKenna Shipman, who scored twice, the Vikings fell short against the Pirates who prevailed 8-4. Aubrey Ebert also went 2-for-2 in her at-bats. Hannah Peterson had the other Vikings’ hit.
Beyer suffered the pitching loss as she surrendered eight earned runs to Grantsburg on seven hits, walked five and struck out four.
With warmer temperatures and little precipitation expected this week, Colfax is slated to open conference play this Thursday, April 4 in Durand before traveling to the Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston on Friday and Saturday for non-conference contests against Mauston, Gibraltar, Cameron and Cumberland. The Vikings’ home opener is set for next Monday, April 8 versus Spring Valley with Boyceville coming to town the next day.