Sports : Vikettes take dramatic 5-4 win over Jesup

Ashley Strong stands at second base after her two-run single in the sixth inning.

Ashley Boyer connects with her third-inning, two-run single Wednesday night.

Starting pitcher Mattie Walker ducks out of the way as third baseman Katie Henderson fires to first.

Kristin Bramow connects on a first-inning single Wednesday.Her 3rd inning double gave V-S a 3-2 lead

Nothing like a little drama… The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes wrapped up their fifth-straight winning season and did it in dramatic fashion Tuesday night with a 5-4 win over Jesup in a non-conference tilt at Thole Field. The Vikettes (18-14 overall) got a big two-out, two-run single from sophomore shortstop Ashley Strong in the sixth-inning and strong relief pitching from Lindsey Noren to close out the win before an excited Senior Night crowd. The J-Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the time the Vikettes got their bats going in the third. Katie Henderson beat out an one-out bunt single, stole second, then sailed around to score on Vikette “Miracle Girl” Kristin Bramow’s double to the left-center field gap. Bramow – who came in to the season as a three-year starter in centerfield – started Tuesday night in the field for the first time all season after having ACL surgery in February. Brittany Robertson beat out an infield hit, then stole second. In stepped Ashley Boyer and the junior slugger singled in both runners and the Vikettes had a 3-2 lead. Jesup tied the game in the fourth and the game would enter the bottom of the sixth that way. The Vikettes loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth as Strong stepped in. On a 2-1 pitch, the sophomore lined a single up the middle.

Henderson and Robertson scored, and Boyer and Strong ended up on third and second. The rally died there, but the damage was done and the Vikettes had the lead at 5-3. Jesup scored one in the top of the seventh and had the tying and go-ahead runs on with one out. But a ground out to Kaley Womochil at first, and Noren’s 3-2, two-out called strike three closed out the win and gave the Vikettes’ 5-4 win. The Vikettes travel to South Tama Thursday night for a JV/varsity twin Thursday night, then come back to Thole Field Friday night for a one-game make-up against second-ranked Clear Creek-Amana, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Vikettes open post-season play with a 7 p.m. game against Benton Community at Van Horne. The winner of that game will then travel Monday to Oxford to play the winner of the Clear Creek-Amana/South Tama first rounder. That game will also be at 7 p.m. The Regional final will be next Wednesday night at Oxford.