HAYFIELD — The Vikings showed a little rust but also showed some positives as they opened up their softball season with a 7-1 loss to Kasson /Mantorville in Hayfield Tuesday.

Hayfield (0-1 overall, 0-1 HVL) took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out RBI-single by Kailee Siemers, but the Komets (1-0 overall, 1-0 HVL) tied it up in the third on a Hayfield throwing error and they scored three more runs on dropped fly ball in the third with two outs.

“Defensively we were moving and talking and doing what we should, it was just a couple of physical errors that cost us some runs,” Hayfield head coach Jana Wagner said. “Their pitcher is probably the best in the conference.”

Most of the Komets’ production came from eighth grade pitcher Madison Damon, who struck out 10 and allowed just three hits and one earned run. She also went four-for-four at the plate with a homerun, a double and 2 RBIs.

Hayfield junior Abby Blanchard was one of three Vikings to get a hit off of Damon, and Hayfield also drew five walks.

“She’s good and she’s got a lot of different pitches,” Blanchard said. “It’s hard to adapt, because they’re fast. We did better than I thought we would.”

K/M, which scored five of its runs with two outs, made it 6-1 in the fourth when Kira Klepel lifted a two-out pitch over the center field for a two-run homer.

While it was tough to take a loss, the Vikings felt good that they were only a couple of mistakes away from being in a close game.

“It’s better than last year. We scored first against a good team,” Blanchard said.

“If we played them later, I think it would be a little closer, we’ve got to get used to (playing outside).”

Hayfield’s freshman catcher Dani Wagner showed a strong arm when she picked a runner off at third in the top of the first and she threw a runner out at second in the sixth.

K/M 0 1 3 2 0 1 — 7 7 0

Hayfield 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 3 4

Hayfield pitching: Jocelyn Sanvick (L), 7 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 7 R, 3 ER, 5 K

Hayfield hitting: Abby Blanchard, 1-for-4; Dani Wagner, 1-for-4, RBI; Emily Blanchard, 0-for-2, BB; Kailee Siemers, 1-for-3, RBI; Rachel Masching, 0-for-2, BB; Grace Walker, 0-for-2, BB; Sanvick, 0-for-2; Jaide Ryks, 0-for-2, SB, BB; Jessie Foster, 0-for-2, BB; Grace Mindrup, 0-for-1

K/M pitching: Madison Damon (W), 7 IP, 3 H, 5 BBs, 1 ER, 10 K

K/M hitting: Kira Klepel, 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Kaylea Schorr, 1-for-3, double, BB; Breanna Barrett, 0-for-3, BB; Damon, 4-for-4, HR, double, 2 RBIs; Emily Gunderson, 0-for-3; Brook Paradise, 0-for-2; Cori Kennedy, 0-for-2, BB; Abbey Lacey, 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Clarisa Nelson, 1-for-1; Kortney Kleber, 0-for-1