The North Kitsap Vikings and Kingston Buccaneers softball programs have been trending in different ways since the two teams first met.

When the two faced off at the end of March, the Vikings were 6-0 with a couple of close victories.

On the other hand, the Bucs were 6-1 with mercy-rule victories in every game.

Since then, the two teams have taken separate paths, and the game May 2 showed it.

Kingston had the first chance to score when it loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with one out. However, Viking pitcher Reese Anderson struck out back-to-back batters to end the threat.

“Reese does a really good job of dialing back in on the mound, and our defense did a good job of taking away chances,” coach Clay Blackwood said. “We did just enough not to score but I was nervous.”

In the second inning, Kingston left another runner stranded in scoring position.

However, Viking Anderson took advantage with her plate appearance, hitting a solo home run to make it 1-0.

Viking Mackenzie Phillips led off the third inning with a double. Shortly after, Cerenity Fake picked up one of two RBIs in the inning with a single to the outfield.

The Vikings continued to pile up runs slowly in the following innings to make it a 7-0 final.

“It’s hard to find which kid is going to be hot when all kids are playing really well,” Blackwood said. “We got it done but it wasn’t the prettiest.”

While North Kitsap piled up runs, Kingston failed to get a runner on base after having five in the first two innings. The Buccaneers have dropped to a 9-8 record while the Vikings are 12-0.

“If we can hit the balls like we have and with the pitchers we have, we should be in good shape,” Blackwood said.

Kingston’s Tegan Stanford hits a double to start the first inning.

Reese Anderson shuts out the Kingston offense.