In one of the closest matchups of Friday's action at the Battle of the Borders, the Impact took a 2-1 victory over the Arlington Vipers in six innings in the 16U division. 

A couple controversial calls had both coaches up in arms at different points in the game. In the top of the third inning, an Impact player appeared to take an inside pitch on the forearm that was ruled a foul ball. Although a distinct bat on ball sound was heard, Coach Mix contended that it hit the player's forearm first. A contentious argument ensued before Coach Mix retreated back to his place coaching third. The umpires conferred briefly, but stuck with the original call of a foul ball.

"The umps thought it hit the bat, and it may have secondarily, but it hit her in the forearm and then the bat I think," said Coach Mix after the game.

Scoring was non-existent until the top of the fourth inning, when a routine grounder hit by Taylor Ullman to shortstop led to an error by the Viper shortstop, allowing a run to score. Taylor Kuske drove in a run with a base hit, later that inning, which would prove to be all the Impact would need.

The Vipers answered back with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but struggled on the base paths. Lindsay Houghton pinch ran for pitcher Alexa Meinzer in the bottom of the third, and got caught in a run down between third and home when trying to score on a booted ball.

The play that may have saved the game for the Impact however came in the bottom of the sixth. Alexandra Kanter of the Vipers hit a base hit into right field that was fielded on the hop by the right fielder, who thought she had a play at first base. The throw was wide, but the back-up was there from the catcher, who fired a strike on to second to get a crucial out on a close play in the final half inning.

"From my perspective she was safe," said Coach Wayne Kanter of the Impact, who was coaching third base at the time. However, Coach Kanter admitted, "I'm biased, but we shouldn't have been in that position."

Coach Mix praised his pitching from Emily Menting and Leah Binsfield, who combined for four strikeouts and held the Vipers to just one run.

"I thought we pitched pretty well, we played okay defense," said Impact Coach Chad Mix. "Just one run (allowed), you should win that game every time."

"I just threw what (Coach Mix) called and let my defense play behind me," said Menting. "They had my back the whole game."

Written coverage of the 2016 Battle of the Borders provided by Zac Bellman, who can by found on Twitter @ZacBellman_WNY.