Vikes come home

Vikes boys and girls play a few at home

The Vikes played at home this past week when they took on visiting Northland Prep and Northwest Christian. The boys' played well against Northland Prep March 15, winning one and losing one in a close match. Coach Phillip Echeverria played a number of his JV boys in the latter game.

The boys' won the first game of the day March 15, taking the win by a score of Williams 12, Northland Prep 0.

"Keaton Hageman did an outstanding job at the mound. At the plate, we came out swinging," said Echeverria.

For the next game, Echeverria played a number of the JV Vikes who fought a tough battle against Northland Prep. The score was 4 ­ 3 to end the first inning of play. Williams scored three more runs in the third to bump the score up to Williams 7, Northland Prep 3. The Vikes then gave up a number of run to end the game just under Northland Prep, who won 10 ­ 8.

The boys will square off against Fredonia this Friday for a couple of home games beginning at 1 and 3 p.m. They take on Chino Valley at home March 27 with games beginning at 1 p.m. for the varsity boys. Junior varsity will play Chino at 3 p.m.

Lady Vikes take a break from hot streak

After their trip to Laughlin, in which the Lady Vikes won four and lost one in a five game tournament, the girls' returned home for a handful of games. The first of which brought the Lady Vikes up against Northland Preparatory Academy March 15, which proved to be another good day for Williams, who won the game 10 ­ 0. The junior varsity girls took their turn against the visiting team as well, though Northland Prep managed to keep the upper hand, winning the game with a score of Williams 12, Northland 13.

By Saturday things seemed a little different for the varsity girls, whose winning streak finally came to an end when they faced off against Northwest Christian for a couple of games March 17. Saint Patrick failed to bless the Vikings, who lost the first game with a score of Williams 0, Northwest Christian 11. Coach Tristan Heisley said it would be one of the team's hardest games of the 2007 season.

"They're the number two team in the state," said Heisley. "That was definitely the hardest team we'll play all year."

The Lady Vikes will have an uphill battle ahead of them when they face Northwest Christian again in the state finals, but Heisley said they were beginning to show some improvement, including a team first hit by JV player Ashley Bean.

"They weren't as good as the score might indicate, the girls were just really psyched out from the beginning. They thought they were going to lose so they played that way," said Heisley. "Ashley Bean hit a home run. That's the first time we played them that we scored a run on them."

The recent loss puts the Lady Vikes at 10 wins and five losses for the season as of March 20. They face Fredonia at home March 23 with game times beginning at 1 and 3 p.m.