Vikings fall in conference opener

BARSTOW - The Barstow Vikings offense put eight runs on the board against LA Mission on Thursday.

The defense committed six errors and struggled in the windy conditions losing the CCCAA league opener, 16-8, to LA Mission.

Maggie Crossley paced the offense with four hits and two RBI to lead the team.

LA Mission scored five runs in the first inning and then posted nine in the third inning to pull away from the Vikings. Barstow answered with five runs in the third, but then the bats went silent down the stretch.

Julie Shipley had an RBI double and Anne Marie Hernandez added two hits including a double. Amy Crossley and Daisha Mitchell each had hits.

"We tried our best to answer their big inning," Barstow coach Tim Syrek said. "We just had too many miscues and our defense struggled. We had six errors and that's just too many."

The Vikings will be back in action on Tuesday against LA Valley.

"We learned some things tonight about our team," Syrek said. "We need to bring positive energy and play unselfish softball. We are getting better at it, but have some definite room to grow."