It is often advantageous for a team in the midst of a long winning streak to face some adversity. What's even better is for that team to win those adversarial games. Friday's West Valley vs. Feather River doubleheader is a prime example as the Vikings improved to 15-0 with a pair of hard-fought wins against a good Golden Eagle team.

Brianna Chambers Lee ripped a one-out liner to left that brought home Andrea DeJesus, capping a monumental 7th-inning rally and giving the Vikings an improbable 5-4 game-two victory. A couple hours earlier, Chambers Lee thrilled the large Youth Softball Appreciation Day crowd at Viking Field with a two-run double that lifted the Vikings to a 3-0 game-one win. It was that kind of day for Chambers Lee, who probably should have stopped to buy a lottery ticket on her way home.

The high-powered Viking offense never got rolling Friday, until it really mattered in the nitecap. Pop-fly outs were the order of the day, especially in the opener, where WVC recorded nine such outs. However, game-one starter Ashlie Nakano (5-0) kept the Golden Eagles (8-4) in check, striking out four and not allowing a hit until a two-out single in the 6th. She would surrender another two-out single in the 7th, but would squelch a bases-loaded FRC threat with a pop-out to DeJesus at short to end it. 

Before that, the Vikings were handed three straight walks to open the 4th. Up stepped Chambers Lee, who stroked a shot through the 5-6 hole to bring home Jasmine Mixco and Raylene Cruz with the winning runs. Chambers Lee scampered home on a Rylee Gomez E4 a batter later. The 3-0 lead held up the rest of the way.

The Vikings started fast in game two. State stolen base leader Tyla Arbuckle opened with a single, stole second and glided home on a DeJesus single. The 1-0 lead would hold until the 4th. Feather River scored three times in the top of the 4th, chasing WVC starter Sarah Habkirk with a single and a pair of doubles. With Golden Eagles at 1st and 2nd with two outs, Viking reliever Alysia Elizarrey struck out a swinging Emma Roberts to end the threat. But back-to-back-to-back singles to open the 5th extended the FRC advantage to 4-1. FRC loaded the bases with two outs, but Elizarrey K'd Olivia Nañez to send it to the bottom of the 5th.

West Valley inched a run closer at 4-2 on a DeJesus SAC fly that brought home Marissa Rodriguez, who led off the inning with a screaming triple to right-center. A three-up, three-down 6th by both teams brought forth the 7th.

Feather River had runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs, but Talynn Madrid lined out to Gabriella Diotalevi at 2nd to send it to the Viking 7th with FRC up 4-2 and three outs away from handing WVC its first loss of the season. Pinch hitter Alexis Bojorquez-Nava ripped a one-out single, followed by an Arbuckle one-bagger. After DeJesus was plunked to load the bases, Jasmine Mixco doubled in Bojorquez-Nava and Arbuckle to tie it up at 4-4. Up stepped Chambers Lee, who sent a shot to left that brought home DeJesus and ignited a wild rumpus on the field and in the Youth Softball Appreciation Day crowd. 

Arbuckle finished with three of WVC's 12 hits and two stolen bags, giving her a state-high 23 on the year. DeJesus went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs-scored, while Mixco was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Chambers Lee also had two hits and one important RBI. Anastasia Marques worked the 7th and earned the win in the circle to improve to 4-0.

The state #2 Vikings face a stern test Tuesday (2/25) when they welcome #18 Yuba (9-1-1) to Viking Field for a 1:00/3:00pm twinbill.