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Your support keeps truth alive in Decorah—donate to local news today! The Decorah Vikings softball team headed into the July 4th holiday weekend looking to regroup after a tough three-game stretch that saw them fall to both Dike-New Hartford and Crestwood. The skid began Friday, June 28, with a road trip to Dike-New Hartford. Facing one of the top teams in Class 2A, the Vikings struggled to get their offense going, falling 10-0 in five innings. Dike-New Hartford's pitching and defense kept Decorah off the basepaths, while their bats steadily built a lead that ended the game early via the run rule. Hoping to bounce back, the Vikings traveled to Cresco on Monday, July 1, for a doubleheader against Crestwood. In Game 1, Decorah took an early 1-0 lead after Jasera Tweten scored on a double by Lauren Luzum, but the Cadets answered with four runs in the fourth to pull ahead. Despite a solid outing by Clara Hjelle in the circle—who struck out six—the Vikings couldn't recover, managing just two hits in the 4-1 loss. In Game 2, Crestwood's Kiernan Ruppert kept the Viking bats quiet, striking out 12 in a complete-game shutout. Decorah mustered four hits but couldn't capitalize, while Crestwood steadily built a 6-0 lead. Hjelle and Dylin Thompson shared pitching duties, but the window of opportunity continued to open for Cadets. Over the three-game span, the Vikings were outscore, managing just six total hits. Luzum led the offense with a 3-for-6 performance across the doubleheader, including an RBI double, while Tweten reached base twice and scored the team's lone run of the series. The Vikings (15-12) are set to take on Charles City (14-14) on Tuesday, July 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the Decorah High School softball field. With both teams seeking momentum heading into the final weeks of the season, the game is poised to be an exciting watch. Knowledge is power! Stay empowered by subscribing to the free newsletter, packed with valuable insights, stories of local newsmakers and ideas to get your weekend started.

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Vikings Aim to Reset After Tough Week on the Road