RallyNorth.net

Thu, Apr 10, 2008 03:45 PM @ Rockport

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Final
Georgetown	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Rockport	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3

Vikings softball team rallies late for win in season opener over Georgetown

Friday, April, 11 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

Things were not looking good for the Rockport softball team in yesterday's season opener against Georgetown.

Down 2-0 in the sixth inning, the Vikings had been held hitless and Royals pitcher Sarah Erlandson was cruising, retiring 16 of the 18 batters she faced.

Instead of packing it in, the Vikings showed their heart and character by mounting a two-out rally in the sixth inning to tie the score at 2. The Vikings would go on to win the game 3-2 in eight innings when Anastasia Flavin scored on a wild pitch after walking and moving to third on a single by Andrea Rovedo.

After the game, Rockport head coach Dianne Parisi was very pleased with the heart her team showed.

"These girls are a bunch of fighters," Parisi said. "This was a total team effort. We have stressed teamwork since the beginning of the season and the girls showed it today."

The game reached its turning point in the sixth inning when the Vikings were finally able to solve Erlandson. After the first two hitters  struck out, Rovedo broke up the right-hander's no-hit bid with a base hit into right field. Rovedo would then steal second and come home on a throwing error. Kaitlyn Keough scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at 2 after reaching on an error.

The Vikings had seven base runners in the last three innings after having just two in the first five. The Vikings credited their early struggles to lack of focus.

"We got a lot more focused at the plate in the last three innings," Vikings pitcher Tia Nelson said. "We were suffering from some first-game jitters early in the game, but luckily we were able to put them behind us and come out with a win."

Parisi credited the team's aggression both at the plate and on the base paths for the comeback.

"We turned up the aggression late in the game," Parisi said. "We started to steal bases and we swung the bats much better. We did a good job of putting the pressure on their defense.

After Erlandson and Nelson dueled for three scoreless innings, the Royals were able to get on board in the fourth. Royals third baseman Sarah Osborne had an RBI ground out scoring Tori Newbury, who reached on a single. Two batters later a Mel Prior ground out drove in Sarah Osborne, who walked.

Nelson, however, refused to get rattled and instead took over the game. The junior hurler would record 11 of the final 12 outs of the game on her own by striking out six and fielding five ground balls.

The Vikings right-hander went the distance, allowing one hit while striking out 12. Not to be outdone, Erlandson would also go the distance, allowing two hits and striking out 12. Rovedo led the Vikings offense, recording both hits and stealing two bases. Newbury got the lone Royals base hit. Rockport also added six stolen bases.

"This was a big win to start the season," Parisi said. "Every one of these girls contributed to the win. Hopefully we can keep up the play we got in the last three innings because it was excellent."