Wednesday 21st May 2025
Tangier Field - Portsmouth
With grey skies looming, the Vikings got their season underway facing the Pirates at the Solent League home diamonds on Tangier Field. Taking advantage of a new pitcher, two walks opened the inning quickly followed by a Home Run from Stefan "Marmalade" Rudeforth. Reigning Division Two MVP, Kathryn Hewson reached base on a walk next but great relay work from the Pirates saw her tagged out trying to stretch to third base in what would be the first of three tag outs (albeit one as a pinch-runner). In what would be a key part of the outcome, the Vikings scored 7 two-out runs in the first inning with aggressive base-running.
Typical solid defensive work saw the Pirates kept off the scoresheet as we went into the top of the second with a 10-0 lead. Opening off quickly with two homers from Marmalade and Tom Anderson, we rallied after going two down to score another 6 runs with a two-run triple from Darren Davie, a second (of three) RBIs from debutante Sarah Rigg and a two-run single from game-MVP nominatee Jaane Rowehl.
The Pirates found their bats as the drizzle arrived putting in 5 runs to open their scoring. We responded with only three runs in the third inning, all from home runs - a solo shot from Tom again and a two-run homer from captain Scott Summers. We managed to limit the Pirates to only 2 runs in response to lead 21-7 after three innings.
Another four-run two-out rally in the fifth as we scored six runs off seven hits as the line-up moved along nicely. The PIrates outscored us for the only time as we conceded 7 with the rain now falling and a vibrant rainbow over right field to take bring th score to 27-14.
A first career double for Sarah Rigg put her in scoring position as she drove in a run in the top of the fifth. The theme of the night continued as we went two-down and didn't let up: scoring another 8 runs including a two-run double from kiwi Belinda Tapp and a one-run triple from Scott who completed the cycle for the night.
With the light fading into dusk, the Pirates responded with some good hits including a bomb from lefty third baseman James O;Toole to respond with 6 runs. It was not enough as the mercy rule came into effect with the score at 36-20.
