By Tim Guercio

VIDALIA — The Vidalia Lady Vikings won the first game of the Viking Classic, a tournament they hosted Friday and Saturday in Vidalia at the Concordia Parish Sports Complex.

The game against Jewell Sumner School from Kentwood ended in dramatic fashion as the Lady Vikings got a walk off win 5-4 on a hard hit ball to left field by Tiffany Brewer.

Sara Cockerham started the game and pitched all seven innings for Vidalia, showing that she still had the focus and stamina to complete the game. The Lady Vikings had trouble for four innings with Sumner’s starting pitcher Chloe Stokes. Stokes was in control of her pitches and was in control of the game. She only saw four Lady Viking  batters in the first inning, four batters in the second, three in the third and three in the fourth inning. Vidalia hit the ball hard to the infield and to the outfield but it was always right at somebody for fast outs. After four innings Sumner led 3-0.

Cockerham was pitching her own game, too, and turned in five strikeouts through five innings, but Sumner hit the ball well and knew how to score as they tacked on another run in the fifth to make the score 4-0.

Finally in the Lady Vikings fifth inning the hits were getting into the outfield with runners on base. Alyssa Cupstid singled, Tianna Ellis singled, Abby Fielder singled the bases loaded. Shelbi Cross got her chance at the plate and delivered with a solid hit to deep left field to knock in the Vikings first two runs. After five, the score was 4-2.

Cockerham had renewed energy for the sixth inning, “I was only throwing my two seamer (fastball) I can locate that inside and outside.” She said after the game. She made quick work in her sixth also, only facing four batters.

The Jewell Sumner coaches pulled Stokes and sent to the mound Alana Fussell. She walked three, hit one and gave up two singles before they could get Stokes back into the game to pitch what would be the rest of the game. The Lady Vikings got a little closer with another run to make the score 4-3 going into the last inning.

For the seventh and last inning Cockerham had to work around giving up two hits and a walk. She managed herself and her pitches very well by striking out two and fielding a ground ball then throwing over to first base for the third out in a bases loaded situation. The Lady Vikings went to the bottom of the last inning down still 4-3.

Stokes for Sumner throwing nothing but fastballs got Macie Seyfarth for the first out. Next up, Shelbi Cross hit a shot that reached the left field fence.

Running hard all the way Cross didn’t stop at second, and beat  the throw by sliding into third base.

Cockerham, up next, pulled the ball down the third base line for a double that scored Cross and tied the game 4-4. Cayley Weatherly drove the ball to the right fielder for an out and advanced Cockerham to third base. On the first pitch, Brewer sent the ball to left field, allowing Cockerham to jog home for the comeback victory.

“We were hitting the ball hard all game long “ said Vidalia head coach Forrest Foster. “Our goal was to swing at the first pitch.”

Cockerham went all seven innings to get the win. Taking a tough loss was Chloe Stokes. Brewer gets the big hit to win the game.

“Coach Foster called me over and said give us a good smooth Tiffany swing,” Brewer said.“It looked like the perfect pitch for me.”