By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - In preparation for Saturday's District game against Lakeshore, Niles' softball team grabbed a big 10-4 win against visiting Buchanan Tuesday evening in its last game of regular season play.
The Vikings had a 4-0 lead after the first inning when Nicole Ignowski hit a big two out double to allow Niles to take the lead.
Both teams earned one run in the second inning, but another five runs from Niles in the fifth gave it a 10-1 lead.
A last effort by the Bucks in the seventh was only enough to bring in three runs as the Lady Vikes took the win.
Julie Kater was the winning pitcher with Carly Gordon the save against Ashley Pointer. Kater is now 7- 15 on the mound.
The Vikes got some help offensively from Kayla Gross who had a triple and two RBIs, Ignowski and Karly Kennedy both had a double and two RBIs, Kater and Kylee Mudd both added doubles and Stephanie Schrader, Kate Whittaker and Lindsay Carey all had hits for Niles.
For Buchanan, Hayley Burks went 2-for-4, Chenai Marker, Jaclyn Mummaw and Tracy Brelowski all went 1-for-3, Jill Woodrick went 1-for-2 and Leslie Niemier went 1-for-4.
Niles will travel to St. Joseph High School on Saturday morning to face Lakeshore for both teams' first game in Division 2 district play. Game time is set for 10 a.m.
The Bucks will face River Valley for the opening game Saturday at 10 a.m. in Division 3 districts.