By Staff

            HALSTEAD – The Smoky Viking softball team traveled to Halstead on Tuesday and earned a split in their doubleheader with Halstead winning game one and Smoky Valley taking a win in the nightcap.

            With the split, the Lady Vikings are now 6-4 in Central Kansas League action and 6-6 overall as they prep to host Pratt on Friday.

            In game one, Halstead held a 2-1 lead until the fourth when Smoky Valley went ahead by one 3-2 only to have Halstead score twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to earn the final two-run, 5-3 defeat of the Lady Vikings.

            Karee Adam pitched for the Lady Vikings and took the loss while Jordyn Elseth, and Adam both had a pair of hits to lead the bats. Elseth hammered out a double and scored twice as well plus Kayla Norberg had two of the three runs batted in.

            Halstead led 3-1 into the fourth of game two when the Lady Vikings put four runs across to take a 4-2 advantage. After Halstead tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, Smoky Valley pushed three more runs across in the top of the seventh and then held Halstead scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lady Vikings their three-run, 7-4 victory.

            Maggie Ryals threw the first four innings for the Lady Vikings before Karee Adam took the mound and closed out the final three innings and got credit for the win moving her season record to 4-3.

            Rylie Tolle and Maggie Ryals each had a pair of hits for the Lady Vikings with Tolle also scoring twice and knocking in a pair of runs as well.

SMOKY VALLEY LADY VIKING SOFTBALL at Halstead

GAME 1:

Scoring: LADY VIKINGS > 0-0-1-0-2-0-0 = 3-7-2;  Halstead > 0-1-1-0-2-1-x = 5-6-1.

LADY VIKING PITCHING > Karee Adam took the loss, now 3-3 for season.

LADY VIKING HITTING LEADERS > Jordyn Elseth > 2 hits, 2 runs, double; Karee Adam – 2 hits; Kayla Norberg – 2 runs batted in.

GAME 2:

Scoring: LADY VIKINGS > 0-0-0-4-0-0-3 = 7-8-0;  Halstead > 0-0-2-1-1-0-0 = 4-6-2.

LADY VIKING PITCHING > Maggie Ryals > 4.0 innings; Karee Adam > 3.0 innings, earned the win, now 4-3 for season.

LADY VIKING HITTING LEADERS > Rylie Tolle > 2 hits, 2 runs scored, 2 runs batted in; Maggie Ryals > 2 hits.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)