By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SILVERTON, Ore.–  With North Salem looking to replace Jasmine Young, who’s been out with an injury, in the circle coming down the stretch of the season, Karaline Pfeifer stepped into the circle Tuesday against Silverton.  Adjusting to the demands of playing out-of-position as they played Dallas and the Foxes on back-to-back days.

“It’s definitely hard,” smiles Pfeifer.  “It’s hard but I got to keep a good attitude and keep it going…With our pitcher out, we knew we had to adapt to new positions and we tried our best.  Dallas and Silverton are definitely some of the tougher teams, so we pushed hard and we should be ready for the next few games.”

The Vikings jumped on the Foxes out of the gate.  Pfeifer started the game with a lead-off single off of Silverton’s Otillya Hefley and advanced to third off of back-to-back ground-outs before Taylor Suarez drove her home with a double to lead 1-0 going into the bottom half of the inning.

Pfeifer slowed Silverton’s offense down to three runs in the first and one in the second, but their offense couldn’t find similar success as they did in the first inning against Hefley as the senior Foxes pitcher settled down.  Allowing her offense to slowly build some momentum that was capped with an eight-run fourth inning to decide the game 16-1 Tuesday evening.

“It was a little hard at first with that first inning, but after that second inning I warmed up and back into it.  Felt pretty good,” Hefley said.  “They jumped on it at the beginning of it, but gotta get back into the rhythm a little bit, but it felt good.”

Hefley went 2-for-2 with an RBI with four strikeouts pitching.  Braezen Henderson had a two-run home run for the Foxes, who scored all their runs off RBI’s Tuesday.  Silverton travels to West Albany Wednesday and host Central Friday to close out the season.  

Peifer, Suarez, Marbella Garcia, Linisie Blanco and Brianna McClaskey all had a hit in the game for the Vikings.  North Salem host Crescent Valley Thursday, travels to South Albany Friday and closes out the season Saturday at home against Corvallis.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald