POULSBO — Somehow “The Battle of the Season” doesn’t even quite grasp the level of play or the street fight focus of the Narrows League final regular season fastpitch match up, which pitted CK against NK on an overcast afternoon May 8 in Poulsbo.

Here’s the break down: North Kitsap playing for sole possession of second place in the NL Bridge and on automatic bid to the West Central District tournament next week; Central Kitsap playing for the school’s first-ever undefeated NL season, first place in the NL Bridge already sealed. Defense was paramount, Vikings 1, Cougars 0.

Rachel Kramer delivered from the rubber for NK; Erika Quint hurled for CK. Each team rallied behind its pitcher, creating a defensive battle in which any mistake might have been the game decider.

“That’s as good a game as you’ll every see. That’s what fastpitch softball is all about,” said NK coach Dan Kolda. “One mistake usually wins or loses a ball game and that’s what it was (today). We win a ball game with one hit.”

North’s Coreena Stout had the only NK hit of the day in the second inning, while Quint threw just two strikeouts and walked three. The Lady Cougars cracked only six hits on the game as Kramer slung six strikeouts, walking only one.

NK’s Trishell Welsh — pinch-running for Laurel Patton — took one of Quint’s early inning walks into scoring position in the second inning. Ninety feet from the plate at third base, Welsh took advantage of a Cougar passed ball, cleating home plate to give North an 1-0 lead with heads-up play and quick feet.

On the defensive for NK, precise heads up play for the Lady Vikes rolled up two double plays on the afternoon.

In the top of the sixth inning, after Lauren Johnson flexed a leadoff base hit, Kramer struck back with a strike out. NK catcher Mel Griffin came out of her stance firing a bullet to second base, and Corina Stout tagged Johnson to end the inning.

Stout played a stellar defensive game at shortstop, leading a determined and resilient NK defense that forced CK to leave 10 runners on base.

In the top of the seventh inning with two out, the last two Cougars left on base were stranded at second and third in one of the most dramatic moments of the season. North’s ace, Kramer, on the verge of the complete game, was bringing heat to Carli Baumgartner who battled right back, fouling off back-to-back pitches.

Zang! Kramer fired the finishing strike to the outside corner, crashing Central’s hopes of sketching into the school history books with one run on the strength of only one hit and a whole lot of defense, 1-0.

“Coming into this (game), I knew we were going to beat them — I just had that feeling,” said NK first baseman Josie Ball, noting the team unity, which has been increasing. “The captains have brought everyone together. They’ve gotten everybody really focused.”

Focus is the name of the game for NK as a whole new season begins.

“That’s been the whole core of our workouts the last couple of weeks,” Kolda said. “You’ve got to find your focus, you’ve got to find your zone … if you do that, then there’s nobody that can beat you.”

The Lady Vikings have been in and out of that zone throughout the course of the season, but as playoffs have approached the NK determination has skyrocketed. The Viking’s confidence should also sail after the thrill of defeating a previously unbeaten team.

Kolda and the Vikes are hoping that the momentum of this win will launch NK full steam into the district playoffs and onto the state tournament for the second time in school history.

“Determination, synchronization … and just heart in everything that we do, every play that we make, every ball that we hit,” senior Lauren Romero said of what the Lady Vikes will need to earn another trip to the state tournament.

Last year, North’s fastpitch exploded late in the season, riding a breakout tear to seventh place at the state tournament. The quest for 2006 begins Friday when North Kitsap faces Stadium 3:30 p.m. in Tacoma at S.E.R.A.

The district playoffs will start May 19.