Sunday 19th May 2024 - Oaklands Park, Chichester

The Vikings visited Oaklands Park for the very first time in our 5-year history to face the 2022 Solent Champion Chichester Falcons. A low-scoring affair kicked off with Vikings firstbaseman Andi Bambeck scoring, after hitting a triple, from an uncharacteristic fielding error from the hosts granting him home plate. Base-runners were a premium and the first half of the inning ended with a neat catch in left field by Hettie McNeil off fellow left-fielder Kathryn Hewson's deep bomb.

SSL Hall-of-Famer and Falcons captain David Morris lead-off with a walk in the bottom of the first, with a second walk following to put runners on first and second. However, three consecutive infield Fielder's Choices got the Vikings out with only one run conceded.

The top of the second did not start brightly, as the opening two batters were both caught out. However, a 2-out rally saw Tom Anderson, Hayley Dyson-Litchfield (ringing from the Raiders) and Scott Summers all getting on base to push home a run. Another single-run half-inning followed from Chichester with only Lucy Morris scoring off a Cary Chen double.

The third inning again saw both teams only score one run to move the scoreline to 3-3; Andi Bambeck collecting a double, Jaane Rowehl following with a single before Shortstop Doug Sutherland's sacrifice fly was followed up with neat Falcons infield work to end the inning. Dave Morris and Dave Piesse combined to reply for Chichester's only run, with a leaping catch from Doug Sutherland, a strikeout and a fly-out catch on the run from Tom Anderson kept the game level.

The fourth inning saw the game break open as only three Vikings batters got chance to step up. A pop-up was caught running backwards by the Falcons shortstop Cary Chen before he scooped up a ground-ball to get Tom Anderson (single) and Hayley out on a double play. The hosts responded with two quick singles to get baserunners before Cary stepped up to knock them both in with a double. A couple of loose walks followed and David Morris pushing home another two off a double. 

With the score at 3-7, the Vikings replied immediately. Captain Scott Summers lined to the hot corner to open the inning, but hits from Gabriela Dascalescu, Andi Bambeck and Jaane Rowehl (RBI) were followed by a fielder's choice to plate another run, and a huge triple from Kathryn Hewson to score a third. Chichester managed a solotary run in response; Dave Piesse (single) made it home on two-out a Russ Percy hit, which was dropped in the out-field, but thrown in with accuracy to tag him out making his way to second before the a second runner crossed the plate.

6-8 at the top of the 6th was the last time the scoreboard was troubled as the Vikings could not capitalise on a runner at third ahead of three-up three-down quick Falcons inning which saw Gabriela Dascalesu take a smart line-drive catch across her body.

With two runs needed to force the Falcons to bat again, thirdbaseman Dave Piesse held onto the ball a little too long allowing Gabriela to speed through first base for an infield single. A fielder's choice spoilt Andi Bambeck's perfect stat line and the only walk of the Vikings' day saw Jaane Rowehl make it to first. Then the dagger to the heart. Shortstop Doug Sutherland got hold of one an lasered the ball back up the middle to cries of 'run'. Only for Cary Chen to pluck the ball out of the air and take it himself to second with runners already looking to make it home for the game-ending double play.