VAN HORNE – A season of ups and downs for the Vinton-Shellsburg softball team ended on a down Saturday night, as the Vikettes dropped a 6-2 decision to Benton Community in the first round of the Class 3A Regional tournament at the Bobcats’ field.

Benton took advantage of three Vikette errors in the second inning to plate three unearned runs.

V-S coach Bari Parrott said that the early Benton rally was a game-changer. “That took us out of the game we wanted to play,” he said.

“We wanted to be able get out early and be able to run and bunt and take advantage of our speed."

"But when you give up three runs that early you can’t play that way,” Parrott added. “You can’t afford to give up the outs.”

The game would stay 3-0 until the Vikettes staged a fifth-inning rally. Loading the bases with one out, the Vikettes got on the board when centerfielder Paige Kreutner walked to drive in a run.

After a force play, Mackie Stueck scored on a passed ball, and the Vikettes were within one at 3-2 after five. In the sixth, pinch-hitter Katie Hanson reached on a two-out error, and Katie Henderson was hit by a pitch. Kreutner stepped in and worked the count to 3-2 against Bobcat hurler Abby Moser.

On the 3-2 pitch, Kreutner drilled a shot into the left field corner, apparently just inches foul; a hit that would have given the Vikettes the lead if it had been called fair. But Benton wriggled off the hook and the game went to the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Benton reached reliever Lindsay Noren for three more runs on five hits to put the game away. “We left too many people on base,” Parrott said. “We had opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them. Benton took advantage of theirs.” The Bobcats (16-20) advance to tonight’s Regional semi-final at Oxford against defending State champion Clear Creek-Amana.

The Vikettes, out in the first round for the first time since 2007, finish the year at 19-17. They were held to just three hits in the game. Freshman pitcher Maddie Cornell, despite not giving up an earned run, took the loss. And, Saturday’s loss brought to an end the careers of seniors Kelsey Beatty, Kristin Bramow, Katie Henderson and Brittany Robertson.