Sports : One game from State! Vikettes defeat Benton, 3-2; to play at Carlisle Tuesday

The 2013 VS Vikettes, with coaches Bari Parrott and Sherill Hanson.

Rachel Clemens looks to the dugout for a sign from coach Bari Parrott.

Ashley McKenna celebrates after making two consecutive tough plays at first.

As good as a hit: Sydney Robertson led off the game with a walk, then scored the first run.

Celebrating! Vikettes defeat Benton; now one win away from State Softball Tournament.

Rachel Clemens advanced a Vikette runner to scoring position with this single.

Sydney Robertson scores the first run in the VS win over Benton.

After five innings of nearly perfect defense helped them to a 3-2 lead over Benton Community, three consecutive sixth-inning miscues by the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes loaded the bases in the regional final at Benton Community.

With Bobcats on all three bases and nobody out, Vikette pitcher Maddie Cornell faced Bobcat catcher Emily Walton, whose two-run homer during her previous at-bat in the fourth inning had tied the game.

Though she said she was nervous during that inning, Cornell made it look routine. She struck out Walton for the first out. The next batter grounded into a 1-2-3 double play. Cornell fielded the ball, threw it back to catcher Rachel Clemens, who tossed it to Ashley McKenna at first to end the threat and the inning. The Bobcats went down in order in the seventh and the Vikettes advanced to the regional final vs. Carlisle.

Cornell dominated the Bobcats for all but one pitch, when a hanging change-up thrown to Walton turned eliminated the Vikette lead.

While the Vikings played flawless defense with the exception of that sixth inning, the Bobcats (31-6) struggled defensively throughout the game. Each run scored by the Vikettes (24-15) was preceded by one or more Bobcat error.

Sydney Robertson led off the game with a walk. She advanced to second on a bunt, then advanced to third and then scored on passed balls. In the second, three Bobcat errors loaded the bases; Robertson’s single drove in the second run. Bobcat errors helped the Vikettes score the go-ahead run in the sixth, which also included bunts and passed balls to advance runners.

In addition the sixth inning double play, the Vikings also benefited from solid defense throughout the game. Robertson threw out a Bobcat runner trying to advance to third with a solid throw from right field to Vikette 3B Brea Burroughs. And at first, McKenna dug out two consecutive throws from infielders early in the game.

V-S will travel to Carlisle on Tuesday; the winner advances to the State Tournament. Carlisle advanced by defeating Clear Creek-Amana, 10-3. CCA swept the Vikettes earlier this season.

Against Carlisle, the Vikettes will face another team with 30 wins and a feline nickname: Wildcats. Carlisle is located approximately 120 miles southwest of Vinton, along I-65 south of I-80.