While not at their best, Forest Grove did enough against Newberg, defeating the Tigers 7-0 on Friday, May 9, at Forest Grove High School.

Vikings head coach Jeremy Ingram was pleased with the win, but at the same time knew they didn’t put their best foot forward coming off of an emotional win over McMinnville two days prior.

“It was not our best game, honestly,” Ingram said. “We didn’t play to the level we’re capable of today…but we found a way to get it done. We’re coming off a big win at Mac, with a lot of emotion, but I tell them all the time, we’ve got to act like every team we play is the number one team in the state. We didn’t do that today.”

Forest Grove first baseman Cali Davis agreed with her coach,

“I feel like coming off the McMinnville game our energy was so high because that was such a big game for us to win, especially after the Sherwood loss, but that made it hard coming into this game,” Davis said. “We came out flat, but we got the bats going and they brought the energy for us.”

The win was the Vikings’ seventh in their last eight games, with their only loss coming as the result of a 1-0 defeat to first place and No. 3-ranked Sherwood on May 6. Davis said the loss was a difficult one, but that it also gave them confidence if and when they meet the Bowmen on a later date.

“It was tough,” Davis said. “It was back and forth, and the way they got their run wasn’t how most teams get runs, with hits and stuff. So, it was a sneaky ‘W’ for them. But we’ll see them in the playoffs.”

Davis led the charge offensively against the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.

She was joined by Kenley Wright and Cadence Hood with two hits apiece.

But the Vikings owed much of their success against Newberg to pitcher Jaylynn Hinton who was pitching in place of standout Kherington Wright who had the night off.

The junior pitched all seven innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six.

“She did great,” Ingram said. “It’s been a while since she’s been in there pitching, but I was super happy with Jaden today. She did awesome.”

In addition to his praise for Hinton’s performance, the coach also spoke to the luxury of having pitchers on staff who can spell their ace when rest is needed.

“We went back to back games against Sherwood and McMinnville and she pitched all 14 innings,” Ingram said. “So, it’s good for her, and good for us to know that we can go out and put someone else in the circle and still get wins.”

But that’s not to say his ace is expendable, for Wright has been outstanding for the entirety of the season, and even better of late.

Against Sherwood, the sophomore allowed no earned runs and just two hits, while striking out 10 and walking none.

“Over the last month, she’s been as good as she can be,” Ingram said. “She’s tough. She’s one of the main pieces that makes us go, so when she’s going good, we go good.”

And they’ve been going good for the last month, with that success coming as the result of Wright’s pitching, but also an attention to detail that wasn’t quite there to start the year.

“We’ve been focusing really hard on the small details of the game,” the coach said. “I tell the girls that the game will reward them when you do the small things right, and we’ve been focusing a lot on that. It’s the things that people might not see from the outside, but as coaches we see it and it’s been showing up.”

Davis agreed, but added that it was also an effort thing.

“I feel like starting the season we were taking plays off and now we’re going 110 percent,” Davis said. “That’s why we’re getting wins.”

And those wins have them just a game behind Sherwood in the Pacific Conference standings. And with just four games remaining, Ingram is excited for what’s ahead, along with confident in his team and what they’re capable of.

“I think we’re rounding into shape,” Ingram said. “We’re probably in the last week, playing our best ball that we’ve played all year. Our defense has been really good and with Kherington we’re tough to score on. So, if we can find a way to keep our bats going and just get a few runs, I like our chances.”

So does Davis who kept her prognostication simple.

“I think we’ll be good,” Davis said. “We’re ready.”