POULSBO — Coming into Monday’s game versus undefeated Central Kitsap, the only thing Vikings’ fastpitch coach Dan Kolda expected was one tough contest.

North had just lost a nail-biter the Wednesday before to the Narrows’ league leader, South Kitsap, 3-2 in eight innings. But Central was toe to toe with the Wolves, leaving the North coach with the assumption that the Cougars were equally as tough.

“We played a great game with South and lost a heartbreaker,” Kolda said. “Knowing that South was tied with them we figured we’d have to get another tiger by the tale.”

Indeed, that’s exactly what NK did.

Behind the pitching of Coreena Stout, who got through six innings surrendering just two hits, North Kitsap took control with a five-run third inning, beating the visiting Cougars 6-1 and further clouding a very deep Narrows’ Bridge League standings.

Both teams had runners in scoring positions in each inning before North broke the game open, utilizing some Central Kitsap mistakes.

“North didn’t give us any problems,” said CK coach Bruce Welling, whose team falls to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in league play. “We gave ourselves problems. To their credit, they turned in on the routine plays and we did not.”

Three consecutive mistakes in the bottom of the third allowed Lauren Romero, Kayla King and Molly McCluskey to get on base, with the senior McCluskey driving home the first run of the game. Following a Stout single that loaded the bases, sophomore Josie Ball ripped open the game with what eventually became a three RBI on fielding mistakes from CK. The Vikings didn’t let up following the inning, adding another run while Stout continued to get three up and three down.

“Fortunately, we put the pressure on them early and they made some mistakes,” Kolda said. “And our girls are getting better and better at closing the door, which I’m pretty impressed with.”

Vikings’ starter Rachael Kramer came in with two on in the seventh to close the game out for North. With one out, NK got out of the jam with a rare 1-2-3 double play.

North Kitsap climbs back into the pack, now at 4-4 overall and 2-2 in league in what coach Kolda said he felt is a tightly contested Narrows’ Bridge.

“It gives us a little bit of leeway but that’s if we wanted to go for the fourth slot (in league). But we don’t,” Kolda said. “Now, these girls have shown me they’re as good as anybody in the league. And this is now anybody’s league.”

North Kitsap hosts Port Angeles at 3:30 p.m. today in another marquee Narrows League match-up.