BOUNTIFUL — If the Viewmont softball team's hitting statistics in Tuesday's home opener are any indication, the Vikings definitely have spring fever.
Hot is really the best description for Viewmont's 3-0 win against one of the state's best pitchers and toughest teams, Lindsie Nielsen and the Jordan Beetdiggers.
"I have good kids who went to clinics in the off-season," said Viking coach Cyndee Bennett after Viewmont shutout last year's 5A runner-up. "It's certainly nothing we've been doing in practice. We're still hitting off tees."
Bennett might have been a little nervous with a new lead-off hitter in junior Kimee Lewis, and the knowledge that Jordan's pitcher was one of the best in Utah prep softball.
"I'm pretty happy with what I saw," said Bennett, who is also Nielsen's off-season pitching coach. "I wanted to see how my team could do when the pressure was on. They stayed calm."
The first-game jitters and lack of timing that usually plague teams during the first few games outdoors didn't seem to bother the Vikings.
Not only did they record six hits off Nielsen, including Tara Evans triple in the second inning, but their defense was almost flawless — a rarity in early March.
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It all began with Lewis and her first at bat of the game.
"Kimee was a huge spark for us," Bennett said. Lewis said she was a little nervous when the coaches told her a couple of days ago that she'd be the leadoff hitter on game day.
"I've been first (at bat) in my summer leagues, but never in high school," Lewis said. "I just did my best."
Her best was two huge hits, the game-winning run and an impressive catch in centerfield that ended Jordan's seventh-inning rally attempt.
After leading off the game with a hit, and then making her way around the bases for the Vikings' first run, she ripped a two-out line drive past Jordan's third baseman in the next inning. Darci Olson followed with a hit, and then both scored when Evans walloped a triple to right-center field.
The Beetdiggers held the Vikings scoreless after that, but they couldn't muster enough offense to even threaten to score until the game's final inning.
Jordan's first two hitters reached base in the seventh, but that's when Lewis made her impressive catch on a shallow hit ball to ultimiately preserve the win.
Britney Thompson struck out the Beetdiggers final two batters to earn the shutout. Thompson gave up just one hit and the defense committed just one error. Neither player was surprised Viewmont had such a strong showing in its opening game.
"I have a lot of expectations for this team," Thompson said. Added Lewis, "I have a lot of confidence in our team, and I think we did a really good job for our first game."
Jordan showed signs of the tough team it will be once the stiffness of winter wears off with a couple of great defensive plays. The most significant came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Viewmont had a runner on third and first.
Callee Talbot caught a fly in right field and then threw the runner out at home with the help of catcher Noelle Jones.
The Beetdiggers' won't get any time to recover as they face Taylorsville Wednesday afternoon in South Jordan.
In other Tuesday games:
TAYLORSVILLE 4, MURRAY 2: Diane Phillips went 2-for-3 and drove in two of the Warriors' four runs in the seventh.
E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com