POULSBO — It was the kind of game the North Kitsap Vikings baseball team didn’t take lightly. After a dismal performance in a loss against Mount Tahoma on Monday, the Vikings took out their frustrations on Bellarmine on Thursday, crushing the visitors from Tacoma 12-0 in five innings.

Vikings coach Jeff Weible said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“That’s one thing about our team. We always come back strong and play well after a loss,” he said. “I think we have beat a team by 10 runs after every loss this year.”

North got off to a sizzling start putting up a four spot in the bottom of the first inning. In the bottom of the second, the Vikings put up six runs to put the game out of reach. R.J. Huggins sealed the deal for North, ripping a double with the bases loaded scoring all three runners on the basepaths giving the Vikings a 10-0 lead. Leadoff man Andy Smith added two solo homers in the third and fourth innings resulting in the final 12-0 tally.

Viking pitchers Kelly Mays and Kyle Loescher combined for a shutout, allowing just six hits and two walks between them on the hill.

Kramer Uvila led the hitting parade for North going 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs. Smith went 3 for 4 with two home runs. Jesse Cummings went 2 for 4 in the victory as well.

The offensive output by the Vikings’ bats proved to be too much for Bellarmine to handle.

Weible said his team worked tirelessly on the basics during practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We had a great two days of practice,” he said. “We were disciplined at the plate today. We didn’t make mistakes like we did against Mount Tahoma. We put the ball in play.”

Weible knows how important the rematch will be between his squad and Bellarmine. They faced off once again on April 27. As of press time, results of this game were unavailable by press time.

“(Friday’s) the most important game of our season,” Weible said of his team’s rematch against Bellarmine. “We’re playing down there and they’re going to be fired up to play against us after the game today. We have to play the game like it’s the state championship. We have to come out with a lot of energy.”