Vikings clinch top seed with victory, By JOE KRAUSE, Sports Editor

The Littlefork-Big Falls Vikings softball team had one section loss going into a big game against the Mesabi East Giants Wednesday afternoon in Hoyt Lakes.
The Giants had not lost a section game turning the contest into a battle for the top seed in the Section 7A playoffs that start next week.
The Vikings came from behind in an extra innings game to defeat the Giants 9-8 and take the first place playoff seed.
L-BF played a solid game, but trailed 8-3 going into the top of the seventh inning.
A five-run inning by the Vikings tied the game at 8-8 and the Vikings kept the Giants from crossing the plate sending the game into extra innings.
The Vikings scored the only run of extra innings when Hannah Larson picked up an RBI on her only hit of the game scoring Bethany Crane.
Kelly Hams shut the door in the bottom of the inning to give the Vikings the 9-8 victory.
“Coming back in a big game like this a is a character builder for this team,” Vikings head coach Mike Imhof said “I am glad that they didn’t quit when we were down.”
Hams pitched all nine innings for the Vikings giving up nine hits, walking four and striking out seven.
Emily Trappe led the Vikings from the plate going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Hams went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Whitney Junker continued her late-season surge going 2-for-5 with an RBI while Kaitlyn Medecke drew three walks and scored one run.
The team will play their regular season finale today when they travel to Warroad for a 4:30 p.m. game.
The Vikings will open the playoffs next Tuesday in Littlefork with the opponent yet to be determined.