Story and photo provided by Dave Brandt
The Grand Island Northwest Vikings softball team won the KHS softball tournament, going 3-0 on the day. The Vikings beat Kearney Catholic 8-3, Bellevue East 1-0 and Kearney High 6-4.
Kearney went 2-1 in the tournament, and improved to 7-4 on the season.
GAME 1 – KHS 9, Aurora 2 – Lauren Schmeits pitched a complete game win for the Bearcats against the Huskies allowing 2 runs and 7 hits while striking out 7. At the plate, Schmeits, Alexa Jacobsen and Olivia Wright led the team with 2 hits each. Avery Longshore led the team with 4 RBI.
Game 2 – KHS 7, Central City 3 – Central City took an early 2-0 lead before the Bearcats came back in the bottom of the 5th inning to come back for a 7-3 win. Avery Longshore started the game, pitching 4 innings and striking out 2. Greeley Cargill earned the win, pitching in the 5th inning allowing 1 hit. Kennedy Lee and Cargill both had 2 hits. Lauren Schmeits and Emily Drackley both had 2 RBI.
Game 3 – KHS 4, Northwest 6 – The Vikings were able to hold off a late push by the Bearcats Saturday afternoon in a repeat of their game Tuesday night. In the 2nd game of the week, Kearney was able to get some more hits against starter Gracie Simmons but not until too late in the game. Greely Cargill started the game for the Bearcats, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits. Lauren Schmeits came in to finish the final 3 ⅔ innings. She struck out 2 while allowing 3 runs. Kennedy Lee led the Bearcats at the plate with 2 hits and 2 RBI. With the loss, Kearney earned 2nd place in the tournament and are now 7-4 on the year.
The Bearcats travel to Lincoln twice this week with games Tuesday against Lincoln East and Thursday against Lincoln Northstar. Both nights they will play at Doris Bair Softball Complex.
