Jackson’s Dinger Powers Vikings To Thriller Over Sussex Tech
The Cape Henlopen softball team has been waiting a long time for this one. The Vikings senior class earned their first win against rival Sussex Tech on Monday afternoon, and they had to fight til the very end to get it too. Tied up in the 10th, Reagan Jackson would blast a 3 run home run to left to seal an incredible 7-4 win. The win improves the Vikings to 9-4, while the loss drops the Ravens to 10-2.
The teams would be in a defensive battle early on with both pitchers tossing a strong game. They would be scoreless going into the 4th, where the Vikings were finally able to break through. Sydney Ostroski would knock a single to get on base, then after a sac bunt got her on 2nd, she would steal 3rd on a pass ball to get within scoring position. Little did she know, she could have just relaxed on 1st as Jordyn Virden would get ahold of one, and launch it past the row of cars in right field for a 2 run moon shot. The Ravens would fight their way back though, as Jaykayla Sample would have a big fly of her own, followed by a RBI single to left from Nicole Hovatter. The teams would stay tied headed to the 7th, where it looked like the Ravens might earn a walk-off after a shot to right, but Cape’s Reagan Jackson would make a catch at the fence to rob Tech of an extra base hit. The teams would go to extras, where the Vikings would take the lead in the 8th. With the bases loaded with 2 outs, Kaeli O’Niell-Willey would blast a 2 RBI double to center. The Ravens would avoid anymore damage, as they were able to get the ball back in play, and catch a runner at the plate to save a run. Sussex Tech went into the bottom of the frame, needing to make up a pair of runs and they would get a little help from the Vikings. A walk and an error would help load the bases with 1 out, before another infield error would allow 2 runs to come across. Riley Shields would work out of a jam from there with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, to send the game to the 10th. There, after Ostroski got on base, Jackson would have the biggest hit of the game, turning on a 0-2 pitch and blasting it over the fence in left for the go-ahead 3 run shot. The defense would do the rest as the Vikings closed out the game for the huge conference win.
Sussex Tech returns to action on Tuesday when they host Polytech, while Cape travels to Indian River on Tuesday.
