SARATOGA -- A picture-perfect Saratoga sky was the backdrop at one of the finest venues on the West Coast for the Vikings' home opener. No. 3 West Valley (3-0) took both games of a two-game set against American River (1-2), winning 7-4 in game one before taking game two 8-5.

"We're still a young team," said head coach Vicky Piatt. "You know what I mean? And the things that you and I have talked about previously, just about, like, gelling and learning, and it's just part of the process."

Freshman Kaylee Kline took the ball for West Valley in game one, using multiple pitches to strike out five of the first six batters she faced. It was about as strong of a start as the Vikings could have asked for, as she went through two innings unscathed before the American River bats picked things up.

"I'm so happy," said Piatt. "As a freshman throwing her first game, the first six batters she faces,  she strikes out five. That's solid. Yeah, yeah. It's a good place to be. When we practice, when we scrimmage, we have them throw to six to eight batters to feel good. And so now we're getting into the season, and the more they're on the mound, the more batters they're facing, they'll go longer and have more success throughout the games. So I think this is a good jumping off point for sure."

Kline (1-0) was also able to benefit from a seven-run lead. Sophomore Lexi Bojorquez-Nava continued her strong start to the season by tripling off the wall in center in the first inning before doubling later in the game. Through three games, the sophomore is 5-for-9 with a double, a triple and six runs batted in.

In her first collegiate start, Kline threw four innings of four-run ball while striking out six against a very potent offensive American River squad.

Replacing her, Menlo-transfer Bri Padilla dazzled, striking out six batters in three perfect innings. It's a theme that would continue for the Vikings in game two as staff ace Ana Marquez tossed 2.1 clean innings. Overall, the Padilla-Marquez duo combined for 5.1 hitless innings, allowing just one walk and striking out 11.

"Wasn't she amazing?" Piatt said about Padilla, making her Viking debut. "Bri was just lights out. I think that they're just such a great complement to each other. She takes it to them. In all seriousness, she's just one of those players when she's out there, I'm like, 'watch out, here it comes!'"

Piatt referenced AC/DC's "Thunder" while explaining the energy Marquez brings to the table, something she felt echoed throughout the team as they took down American River.

The Beavers actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, with Katy Lambert allowing a pair of runs. But playing from behind for the first time this season, the Vikings responded with three in their own half.

Leadoff hitter Taylor Hanshaw led off the inning by singling before Raylene Cruz's one-out walk. Bojorquez-Nava sinlged home a run and Sadie Heming, who spent last season as a valuable bench bat, doubled both runners home.

It's a continued theme for Heming and Bojorquez-Nava, the veteran pair in the middle of the Vikings' lineup who have been so clutch in the early going. Cruz added on with an RBI single in the second inning, breaking what was a bit of a cold stretch and reaffirming her position as one of the dominant veterans in the West Valley lineup.

"Something to be said about our sport, right?" said Piatt. "Where you bat in the lineup, you get different types of pitches. So, you know, when Ray's batting four for us, wherever she's batting, she's in a tough spot. And yeah, five and six also are tough positions to be in too, but we definitely put a lot of pressure on Ray putting her in like those top positions.

That pressure comes with being in the middle of a lineup, and it's something Cruz, who hit fourth on last season's team, is no-doubt ready for.

Heming hit West Valley's first home run of the season to lead off the third inning. With almost all of West Valley's home run power from last season departing to the four-year level, there was a question on where it would come from. But Heming, Bojorquez-Nava and Cruz all have the power to change a game, while freshmen like Destiny Solis and Angie Fulkerson could do the same.

Piatt also finds immense value in the Vikings playing from behind for the first time against a very tough team.

"If you win every game, if you run rule every game," said Piatt, "then you never know what it feels like to come from behind or to have to walk off a game. You know what I mean? You get to learn from those experiences."

Now, the Vikings continue play against another Big 8 team, taking on Santa Rosa in a double header on Sunday.