POULSBO — The game against the Bainbridge Island Spartans March 24 wasn’t easy for either the Spartans or North Kitsap Vikings.

The Vikings had very few shots on goal in the first half. And Viking goalkeeper Jordan Hadden had his work cut out for him with about half a dozen saves from would-be goals. Despite the first half shortcomings, however, it was the 2A team that overcame the 3A Spartans with a 1-0 victory.

While the win may not have advanced the team in the standings — it was non-league — Vikings coach Chris May said it did build confidence.

“There’s always that saying that teams find a way to win,” May said. The Vikings “showed some mental toughness by not folding.”

The battle between the two teams was not what the Vikings are used to. As a team that works to control the tempo of the game, the Vikings were unable to defend a team of similar style in the first half. But Hadden made it his goal to ensure the shutout. The Viking goalkeeper had five or six “world class” saves, according to May. Hadden kept the Vikings in the game.

Going into the second scoreless, a penalty kick scored by Alex Olson and won by Jonah Stickney in the 44th minute, got the Vikings moving.

“Once we got that goal it seemed to lift everyone,” May said.

Though it’s intangible, May said the Vikings proved their “mental toughness” on the field.

The Vikings are on the road March 27 to face Port Angeles. They are back home March 29 against Port Townsend. Junior Varsity begins at 5 p.m., Varsity at 6:45 p.m.

Straight, Milyard effective pitching against Bremerton

Solid pitching by Justin Straight and AJ Milyard, with hitting to back it up, helped the North Kitsap varsity baseball team outscore Bremerton 6-2 March 23.

At the plate Straight also went 3-4 with two runs. Milyard went 2-3. Nate Reece, Shane Crowell, Matt Fisher and JT Nettleton all had at least one RBI to boost the Vikings’ Olympic League record to 3-1 (3-3 overall).

The Vikings varsity team hits the road March 27 to play Klahowya (Fairgrounds). Game is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. The Junior Varsity team play at home at 4:15 p.m.

Final: NK 6, Brem 2

NK 103 110 0 — 6 runs, 11 hits, 2 errors

Brem 000 110 0 — 2 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors

Battery — NK: Justin Straight, AJ Milyard and Matt Fisher. Brem: Nick Torres, Matt Noll (4), Ben Merrill (7) and Zach Zurbrugg. W: Straight. L: Torres. Save: Milyard (NK).

Leading hitters — Straight 3-4, 2 Runs; Milyard 2-3; Reece 1-3, Run, RBI; Crowell RBI, Run; Fisher 1-3, 2B, Run; Nettleton 2-4, 3B, RBI, Run.

North Kitsap’s Crabtree won only match against Sequim

Sydney Crabtree was the sole Viking to leave the tennis court with a win Friday afternoon against Sequim.

In a tiebreak set, Crabtree was able to defeat Sequim’s Anna Prorok 7-6.

Final: Sequim 6, NK 1

Singles

Sydney Crabtree, NK, def. Anna Prorok 6-2, 7-6; Hillary Smith, Seq, def. Julia Hoak 6-2, 6-2; Tenisha Powless, Seq, def. Danielle Haberly 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

Stacy Hanson/Katrina Chan, Seq, def. Talia Frombach/Hannah Price 6-0, 6-2; Hannah Gauthun/Melanie Guan, Seq, def. Amanda Turley/Naomi Morgan 6-4, 7-5; Jessica Defilippo/Elizabeth Shore, Seq, def. Emily Belton/ AJ Hancock 6-2, 6-4; Heidi Stallman/Calli Norman, Seq, def. Hannah Patterson/McKenzie Hawkins 6-2, 6-4