Vikings Softball Club

Big shout out to all Vikings that competed over the weekend, and a special mention to Ethan Small taking out the U18's MVP!

This week we interrogated our Sponsorship Co-Ordinator Dan Snape!
Another one of the infamous “Tee-ball Dads” Dan has been around for 5 years now, and just so happens to be due to play his 100th game for the club this weekend. He has been heavily involved in the club since his arrival with an array of coaching and committee duties, where he currently resides as this year’s very successful Sponsorship Co-Ordinator.
Away from the diamond Dan supports West Coast, and enjoys mountain biking, fishing, camping, chasing crays, and generally being out on or near the water. He loves pulling up a decent Baldchin Grouper, which he reckons is the tastiest fish out there. It’s no surprise he rates Waroora Station as his favourite getaway, and you can hear him pumping Groove Armada’s Superstylin’ from a mile away.
Dan rates winning that first premiership with the other tee ball dad’s (aka The Mighty Ducks) as one of his greatest sporting achievements, but his favourite memory so far is watching his young fella Cam and his fellow U/14 teammates, of which there were plenty of Vikings, take out the National Championship.
When we asked Dan what it is he most enjoys about being at the Vikings he said “Watching the younger generation grow into the sport from humble beginnings, many have become superstars and or play at a highly competitive level at the club and the connection it brings, dads having a go or rejoining the sport. Softball and the Vikings has a lot to offer, especially mateship with a sprinkle of softball.”
So if you’ve got some hot tips for willing sponsors next year, grab the craftiest beer available for Dan and go let him know!

Vikings results from the weekend

🎟️Reminder: End of season awards night tickets are still available to buy through the canteen

This week we had a chat with someone who was playing softball before Norths/Vikings were even an idea floated between mates over a beer or three, a true living legend of the club, Rodney “Rocket” Smith!
Rocket joined when we started way back in 1981, and prior to that he was playing at Girrawheen. Since coming to the club Rocket has racked up over 560 games, holding numerous positions including a run as president of the club, and ran a few teams as the coach as well. Nowadays you can usually find Rocket supporting his fellow elders, enjoying a social drink with the members, and trying his hand at winning yet another bloody meat raffle.
Away from softball Rocket is a patriotic supporter of the Australian Swimming Team. He enjoys his fishing and was a regular member of one of the many Viking fishing crews who always seemed to find a couple of weekends through the season to head up north and fill their freezer. He also enjoys a good feed of Chinese and rocking out to Queen.
Rocket lists Italy as his favourite holiday destination, and it’s a fair bet that the highly enjoyable World Masters Games in Torino has helped shaped that opinion. His favourite softball memory however was the World Masters Games in Canada, the 1st time a Vikings team had gone international. The boys brought home a bronze medal to go with a treasure trove of memories and sparked a whole new phase for the club where we regularly started attending tournaments outside South West W.A.
Rocket reckons he saved his greatest sporting achievement for last where, in his final game, he threw a 22-0 shutout against Jags. When I asked Rocket what he most enjoys about being at Vikings he said “It’s the mateship of all the members, from the seniors down to the juniors.”
If you ever want some stories from back in the day, or even just to have a good chat and a laugh, grab a Jacks and Cola for Rocket and settle in!

Results for the Green Team from the weekend

Massive merchandise clearance at the club tomorrow night from 6pm!
We're clearing house so come and score a bargain on merch, we have shorts, tracksuit pants, socks, polos, training shirts, gym towels, everything must go!
Get in quick because once it's gone, it's gone!

This week we have a chat to club elder, life member, past president, Hagar, 5 from 5, he of 1000 nicknames, Bill Leonard!
Bill joined the club in our glory days of brown and white back in 1992. Over the years Bill has racked up somewhere around 550 games and now plays in our "social" levels. He has held a multitude of positions in the club, culminating in a successful tenure as president for a number of years, and has played internationally representing Vikings at World Masters Games.
Outside of softball Bill is a lifelong fan of the Perth Wildcats, and his enthusiasm for rugby sees him already stocking the cupboard with Perth Bears merchandise to go with his Western Force gear. Bill also has an interest in bonsai, loves cooking up a decent feed on the BBQ and enjoys some of the more classical tunes with Frank Sinatra’s My Way being one of his favourites. When it’s time to get out of town Bill prefers to catch up with family, wherever they may be, with fond memories of Melbourne last catch up.
Bill rates his greatest sporting achievements as receiving life membership to Vikings and being president of the club when they won 5 senior flags in one season. His favourite memory is an enduring one, when his son Matt passed away in 2009 and the club set up a guard of honour. Matt is still recognised by the club in the Matt Leonard Memorial Trophy for Best Club Person each year. Bill also enjoys still getting out there with the rest of the Elders and other Vikings every week, where he has developed a unique style of play involving no lateral movements.
I asked Bill what he most enjoys about being at Vikings, he said “What we have all achieved over the past 20 years, changing from the “Norths” brown and white to our current Green, building along with others the club to what it is today. Building our Juniors and our assets. I also love that we have 2nd Generation Vikings playing a major role in running the club.”
So if you want to have a chat with a living legend of the club, grab Bill a Modus Operandi Chervez or a Bourbon & Coke and learn a little of the history and how much this club means to the Elders.

Vikings results from last weekend. Only 3 rounds left until finals!

Want to get a monthly 10% discount on your self storage invoice AND help support our club?
Our self storage sponsor, StoreLocal Wangara, is offering to contribute $50 to our club each time a member, or their family/friend, signs up for new storage unit rental at their facility.
Simply use our promo code VIKINGS10 to get your 10% monthly discount and earn $50 cash for your club!
Details and booking here: https://bit.ly/StoreLocalWangara
StoreLocal - Life Sorted!