Robert Jeffrey
Sun Sports Contributor
Cameron Turner Photo

Eagles Route Vikings
OTSELIC – After an explosive first inning of play, the Otselic Valley Vikings varsity softball team was outscored 18-2 over the final four innings by the McGraw Eagles, as the Vikings lost by a score of 23-7 in the Section III contest.
The Viking’s starting pitcher in Whitney Hamlin let up 15 earned runs on the afternoon of May 8, allowing 17 hits while walking 12 batters in her three inning performance.
Jolanda Ponce was called in to salvage what was left in the game, entering in to relieve Hamlin in the fourth inning. Ponce proceeded to give up eight earned runs to the hard hitting Eagles, allowing 10 hits from the opposition, while only walking three.
The lone bright spot for the Vikings in the 15 run blowout was the offensive performances of Ponce who went 3-3 with two runs scored. Freshman Grace Costa went 2-4 on the afternoon with a run scored and a walk.
Notably, McGraw’s Jade VanWagenen put on a special day at the dish, going 3-5 with two solo homeruns, two RBIs, five runs scored and two walks.
 
M: 5 4 6 4 4– 23 21 0
OV: 5 0 0 2 0– 7 12 0
WP- Fish LP- Hamlin
 
OV drops two to Brookfield
BROOKFIELD – In the first game of a back-to-back, OV’s defense on May 10, was battle tested as Brookfield put the bat on the ball scoring 18 runs on 17 hits.
The Vikings tried their best to recover and salvage what was left of the ballgame, but could not muster the offensive effort they desperately needed as they fell to the Beavers 18-4.
Amber Meigs went 2-3 from the plate scoring an RBI. Meigs was the only Vikings player to record more than one hit on the afternoon. OV’s pitching from Jolanda Ponce kept the Vikings within reach, but ultimately gave up 18 runs- all earned, allowing 17 hits and 11 walks, while striking out six.
The Beaver’s Madilyne Kupris went 3-4, with a solo round-tripper, three RBIs, scoring three runs and two walks.
In the second game on May 10, the Beavers struck early, busting out to an 11 run advantage by the start of the third inning. From there, Brookfield only allowed the Vikings to score three runs over the last three innings, as OV dropped the nightcap by a score of 13-5.
Whitney Hamlin took the loss on the afternoon, but did manage to help her cause on the mound, from the batter’s box.
Hamlin went 2-3 with a double, three RBIs, a walk and one run scored. The Viking’s Chyenne Remillard went 2-3 with a pair of singles in the game and a walk.
The Beaver’s Paige Jaquay continued her dominance on the diamond, adding the win from game two in addition to her excellent outing in the first of the two game set.
The Vikings looked to rebound as they hosted Stockbridge on Monday, May 15.
 
Game 1:
B: 2 4 1 4 7– 18 17
OV: 0 2 1 0 1– 4 8 0
WP- Jaquay LP- Ponce
 
Game 2:
OV: 2 0 1 0 2 – 5 6
B: 3 8 0 2 0 – 13 15
WP- Jaquay LP- Hamlin
 
Stockbridge rolls over the Vikings
OTSELIC – With the Vikings winless in their first nine games on the year they looked to grab their first ‘W’ against their opponent in the Stockbridge Valley Cougars who entered Monday’s game with a record of 10-4.
By the end of the game, it was all business for the Cougars who mauled the Vikings for all 21 of their runs over the first three innings.
Despite the Cougars only hitting two extra base hits, it was their patience at the plate that allowed to their decisive victory as Viking’s pitcher Jolanda Ponce walked 11 batters all while giving up 19 hits on the afternoon.
Otselic Valley recorded three hits on the afternoon, Grace Costa, Ponce and Alexis Hazzard all recorded one hit a piece.
Today, Wednesday, May 17, the Otselic Valley girls softball team will host their senior night against Madison as the Viking’s team honors and celebrates their lone senior Lauren Kenyon on a great high school athletic career.
 
S: 7 10 4 0 0– 21 19 0
OV: 0 0 0 1 0– 1 3 0
WP- Jacobs LP- Ponce