Sports : Ugly night at Thole Field, as Vikettes stumble to Beckman, 8-3

VINTON – The rollercoaster season for the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes hit what was – hopefully – its low point Wednesday night when the Vikettes were pounded at home by Dyersville Beckman, 8-3.

The loss dropped the Vikettes 7-6 on the season, but left them winless (0-4) at Thole Field for season. And it was tough loss, as the Blazers entered the game with a mark of 2-9.

Beckman chased Vikette starter Maddie Cornell with three runs in two-plus innings of work. Lindsey Noren finished the contest, and while she pitched well, the Blazer bats wore her down late.

The Vikettes had three costly errors in the game, and the Blazers took advantage of all of them.

After stranding seven runners on base through the first five innings, the Vikettes finally got on the board in the sixth. Kristin Henderson walked, went to second on Syd Etten’s ground out and Kelsey Beatty followed with another walk. Jena Relf singled to score Henderson, and Katie Henderson followed with a two-run single that scored Beatty and Relf and the score was halved at 6-3.

But they would get no closer. Beckman picked up two insurance runs in the seventh and that would close things out.

The Vikettes were held to five hits – one each for Katie Henderson, Ashley Boyer, Kaley Womochil, Beatty and Relf. They also had six walks.

V-S will try to get the coaster going back up the hill tonight on the road as they travel to Mount Vernon to take on the rugged, 3rd-ranked Mustangs, then come home Saturday to host the 2010 Vikette Invitational. First round action begins at 11 a.m. with the finals to follow.