Though one dugout was empty and the spectators sparse, the Vikings got important reps in at an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 5. The team played in a more casual setting, a mix of practice and game reps.
Balls and strikes were counted leisurely and sometimes baserunners were told to stay where they were, even if they’d been thrown out, to set up practice scenarios. To top it off, there was a constant stream of upbeat music flowing from the third base dugout.
In 2024, the Vikings appeared in their fourth consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship Tournament and won the conference title for the second time in four years.
The team went on to win the NCAA West Region Championship and secure a program-first trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series in Longwood, Fla., finishing as the national runner-up.
Alli Kimball, a second-year student and right-handed pitcher, credited the run the team went on in 2024 for how closely everyone bonded.
“It was absolutely crazy, it was so fun,” Kimball said. “I feel like the team just grew so much closer as we went, which made it all sweeter.”
Kimball figures to be a key cog in the team’s pitching staff for the upcoming season, having led the team in innings pitched (169.1) and wins (24) in the 2024 season.
A trip to the NCAA World Series will be difficult to replicate, which is why a repeat isn’t necessarily the goal for Head Coach Sheryl Gilmore.
“We don’t stress too much about trying to repeat,” Gilmore said. “We focus on what we can control and not worry about outside noise or rankings and things like that, and just put our heads down and continue to work.”
The beginning of that work occurred largely behind the scenes during fall training camp. Now, the team is bringing that process out into the open with their only intrasquad scrimmage of training camp.
With situational goals written on a whiteboard in the dugout, such as executing sacrifice bunts, hit-and-runs and suicide squeeze plays, the players practiced live reps.
Second-year, right-handed pitcher Kaiana Kong executes a sacrifice bunt on Oct. 5, 2024, at Viking Field in Bellingham, Wash. Kong pitched a team-best 1.39 ERA over 130.2 innings in 2024. // Photo by Sam Whitney
“It’s nice to be able to stop and break things down when we need it, but it’s different in that it’s live reps,” Gilmore said. “I think the more you can make practice at game speed, the better.”
The defense never took plays off either. At one point, second-year outfielder Rachel Traxler nearly dove through an open gate in the left field fence in pursuit of a fly ball.
“If there’s one thing that’s evident about this team it’s that they care about getting better and they care about being as great as they can be,” Gilmore said.
Lexi Barcomb, team leader and fourth-year outfielder, highlighted the cohesion among the team at this early stage of the season.
“It’s been so much fun, all the new girls just jumping right in,” Barcomb said. “It feels like we haven’t skipped a beat or anything. We’re back, it’s so fun to see everyone and we’re ready to go.”
Another leader from last season is second-year third baseman Maleah Andrews. Andrews was named 2024 GNAC Tournament MVP and blasted a walk-off home run in the NCAA West Region title game against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
This year, Andrews has had to adjust her approach as the season approaches.
“I’m finding my roles a little bit differently and making my way back in, but as a team, I think we’re doing a really good job of growing together and figuring out things to make us even better,” Andrews said.
Second-year third baseman Maleah Andrews takes an at-bat on Oct. 5, 2024, at Viking Field in Bellingham, Wash. Andrews batted 0.354 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 2024 as a true freshman. // Photo by Sam Whitney
Additionally, Andrews wants to switch up her mindset and be more aggressive in her playstyle.
“I think as a freshman, I was really nervous to be on this big stage,” Andrews said. “For me, it’s gonna be a lot of confidence and working to expand my range in the field and then at the plate being able to execute when I want to.”
Andrews, and the rest of the team, will have plenty more opportunities to get dialed in during the fall, with preseason matchups at Seattle University, the University of Washington and the University of Oregon on Oct. 12, 19 and 20 respectively.
The Vikings’ preseason schedule will conclude with an alumni game back at Viking Field on Saturday, Oct. 26 at noon.
Across the board, the team is eager to get to work and play their way back to the national stage.
“We’re playing to win,” Barcomb said. “We want to go back. We want more.”
Sam Whitney (he/him) is a Sports and Recreation reporter for The Front this quarter. He is studying journalism with a public relations focus with hopes of one day working for a professional baseball team. In his free time, he likes to read about history and play pool with his friends. You can reach him at samwhitney.thefront@gmail.com
