Vikings score wins over Northland Prep, Ash Fork

Some games cancelled

The Williams High School Vikings baseball team played a couple of games recently, challenging Northland Preparatory Academy March 24 and Ash Fork March 28. In the first match the boys took a strong win, according to Coach Phillip Echeverria. The Vikes took the win in the game with a final score of Williams 13, Northland Prep 0.

"Our pitcher threw a no-hitter," Echeverria said. "We got a good pitching performance there and we made some plays defensively behind him. He can't do it by himself, so defensively we're improving. We've still got quite a ways to go defensively. Still, I'm happy with our pitching performance."

The Vikes traveled for a game against Ash Fork March 28 for both varsity and junior varsity games. The Vikes won the game with a final score of Williams 25, Ash Fork 6.

"The JV (junior varsity) won 25-3," Echeverria said. "In both ball games we came out swinging the bat well and hit the ball hard. The varsity had 25 hits in their game and five home runs. The JV team had three home runs. They're getting close to where we want to be, staying inside the baseball, driving it up the middle and hitting it hard. I'm real happy with that success. Some kids have made some changes and it shows. We've got to keep working on that."

Planned games against Bagdad March 31 were cancelled, Echeverria said, as is Friday's JV game against Beaver Dam.

"They cancelled their games against us, stating they didn't have enough kids to come and play us," Echeverria said.

The Vikes varsity squad, meanwhile, will play Fredonia at Williams High School Saturday with games beginning at noon and 2 p.m. The Lady Vikes will also play Fredonia, with games scheduled to begin at noon and 2 p.m. as well.

"Those are two more conference games," Echeverria said.

The Vikings overall record is 8 and 4. They're currently 4 and 0 for the region.

Lady Vikings

The WHS Lady Vikings also pulled off a couple of wins recently. Their first came in a home game against Northland Preparatory Academy March 24. The girls took the win in the game with a final score of Williams 11, Northland Prep 4. They followed their win with a game against Ash Fork March 28, taking another strong victory with a final score of Williams 22, Ash Fork 1. The JV girls took a win against Ash Fork as well with an ending score of Williams 18, Ash Fork 2.

"We continue to make progress at the plate with the batting, every game the confidence level increases with the hitting. We have a strong pitching staff and infield with limited errors. We're still working on the base running and outfield," said Coach Frank Schulte.