TACOMA — The North Kitsap Lady Vikings fastpitch team proved its state-caliber status Saturday, earning a bid back into the state finals where it placed seventh in a magical breakout 2005 season.

Now, after solidifying their deservedness to return with two wins at the district tournament, the Lady Vikes are hoping for a little more magic at state.

“Everybody goes through the scenarios, we’re going in just hoping to win our first two games,” said NK senior Rachel Kramer. “Our goal right now is to get into the top four, which would get us some hardware. That would be a really good note to end on.”

As the No. 6 seed from West Central District III and the only Narrows League team in the tourney, North Kitsap will be matching up against Everett, May 26, in the first round of the WIAA/Diary Farmers of Washington 4A Softball Tournament at SERA fields in Tacoma.

Last weekend at the Spriker Recreation Center in Tacoma is where North Kitsap earned its state spot.

In the first game of the district playoffs at Sprinker May 19, the Lady Vikes were victims of the 10-run rule as Kentlake finished off North Kitsap in six innings.

Rebounding later that day, the Lady Vikes took out their aggression on Vancouver’s Mountain View Thunder, acquiring a 6-0 lead heading into the final inning of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mountain View put together a five-run rally, scaring the Lady Vikes with elimination. North’s defense solidified in time to hang on to the 6-5 victory.

“Rachel was pitching a great game and that inspired us to back her up,” said NK shortstop Coreena Stout. “As a senior, you’re looking at it and thinking this could be the last game so you just want to give it all.”

In the Mountain View game, Jordan Jewett, Hanna McCluskey, Stout and Kramer led the Lady Vikes at the plate with two hits apiece. While in their first game against Kentlake, McCluskey and Josie Ball led the attack with one hit each.

“Our first game I think we just had jitters … we weren’t really on because I think we were a little intimidated,” Kramer said. “The second game we had to win, so we kind of pulled it together a little more.”

“The third game was the normal North team out there,” Stout added.

In Saturday’s loser out/winner to district game against Rogers High School, the entire Lady Viking game gelled.

At the plate, the Vikes accrued 12 hits while from the mound NK’s ace Kramer limited the Rams to only two. And the defense surrounding Kramer was rigidly unforgiving.

The Lady Vikings’ infield produced spectacular plays right on cue as Ball had two diving catches from her first base position in the sixth inning. Krishell Welsh also made a diving stop, ceasing Ram progress in the second, and Melody Griffin also stopped Rogers’ base runners with rapid fire precision from behind the plate.

“I take the pressure off the defense, and the defense takes the pressure off me when they make good plays,” Kramer said. “And when we get hits, it takes the pressure off both of us.”

The pressure is on this weekend at SERA as Kramer and North’s senior class play for the cap to their collective NK fastpitch career.