VIDALIA, La. – Vidalia’s record setting 13-1 record to start the season didn’t impress Block on Friday as the Lady Bears scored three runs in the top of the first and held on to hand the Lady Vikings a 5-0 defeat, only their second loss in 15 games.

&uot;Block has a good team, but I feel like we could have done much better,&uot; Lady Viking Head Coach Gary Paul Parnham said. &uot;I don’t think Block saw the true Vidalia Lady Vikings today.&uot;

The Lady Bears took advantage of a Lady Viking error in the top of the first to score three unearned runs against Vidalia ace Amanda Strickland.

The error allowed Angela Pritchard to pick up an RBI with two outs for the first score of the game, and two batters later the lead was extended to 3-0 when Shonda Butts drove home two runs with a big single.

Parnham’s squad looked ready to cut into the Block lead in the bottom half of the first. Back-to-back infield errors allowed Carla Crofford and Jenny Watson to reach base before Strickland earned a base on balls to load the bases with only one out.

However, Block starting pitcher Morgan McMillan struck out the next two batters to end the Lady Vikings’ scoring threat.

The two Vidalia runners stranded in scoring position was to become a reoccurring theme in the contest as the home team left a total of eight base runners in scoring position in seven innings of action.

&uot;We were able to put runners in scoring position, but we just couldn’t seem to come up with the key hit to drive them home,&uot; Parnham said. &uot;That was really one of the big keys to the game. Block has a good pitcher, they play good defense, and they do a good job of putting the ball in play. That’s what it takes to win games. They had those things today, and we didn’t. Now we have to sit back and regroup. It certainly doesn’t get any easier for us.&uot;

While it might not get any easier, at least the Lady Vikings have a chance to make up ground in the important district race.

The loss to Block gives the Lady Vikings a 1-1 district mark, but they get a chance to move up the standings next week when they travel to play both Crowville and Ferriday in district action.

&uot;We just need to regroup after today’s performance,&uot; Parnham said. &uot;I’m really disappointed right now. Not that we lost, but because I know the true Vidalia team didn’t show up. We just need to make sure we show up against Crowville and Ferriday.&uot;