North Kitsap’s softball team came up short against one of the top teams in the Olympic League, losing 11-5 at home to Port Angeles May 7 in a crucial game that eliminated the Vikings from any chance at capturing a league title.

With the loss, NK sits at 8-3 in league, behind second-place Olympic (10-2) and the first-place PA (10-1). The Vikings also lost to the Roughriders 7-0 May 1.

“One thing we talked about after losing to them last week is that we have to be able to bounce back,” NK coach Clay Blackwood said. “And that’s one thing we talked about [after the game], we did not give up at all.”

Pitcher Reese Anderson got the start for the Vikings. She let up two home runs in the top of the third inning, giving the Roughriders the lead at 4-1. Anderson was swapped out for Charizma Fake, who let up one more run before ending the top half of the inning.

“I threw a lot more off speeds this game just to try and throw off hitters,” Fake said.

The Vikings executed a double play in the top of the fifth inning, stymying any momentum PA had. Campbell Weible hit a two-RBI double to center field, scoring Anderson and Rubyjane Peterson, trimming NK’s deficit to one.

However, an NK fielding error drove another run home for PA and jumpstarted a scoring barrage for the Roughriders, increasing their lead to 8-4. The PA scoring didn’t slow down with the Roughriders driving in three additional runs off a double to deep left field and multiple fielding errors.

NK earned three quick outs in the top of the seventh. Weible drove in a run for the Vikings in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the deficit to six.

“When the ball doesn’t bounce your way and you make those mistakes, good hitting teams are going to take advantage of it, and unfortunately, that’s what happened,” Blackwood said.