Warriors 15 defeated Concordes United 7


Warriors proved too strong against Concordes United in the Mount Gambier Softball League grand final, claiming back to back premierships.


The fancied Warriors bamboozled Concordes United with a nearly flawless performance in their victory, extinguishing any glimmers of United’s pressure with well-drilled team play.


Despite United scoring two in the top of the first via a 2024-25 League MVP Dana Jones triple, an error and an Aimee Brooks double, Warriors old hat Leyna “Sharapova” Bruggemann had Julie Beck and Billie Jones struck out and the blue and white team unfazed at the early runs.


Warriors lead off Justine Koop flew out to Brooks, “Denis Denuto” AKA “The Gun” Sarah Polderman walked, stole then used her flight of foot to make it to third.


Jarvo Queale strode up, faced a Dana Jones ball then expertly put down the squeeze bunt and “The Gun” slid in to home under the tag for a run.


Warriors had a couple of other base runners but did not further trouble the commentating scoreboard operators.


In the second dig, United’s Bec White had a seven pitch lead off at bat with a single to Maddy Bignell at right.


There was another K2 prior to a miscommunication occurring in the Warriors field before Dana Jones then put down a bunt that loaded the bases.


“Saintly” Jas Disselbach made an out without much fanfare before Jarvo made the last out off Beck’s bat with another run added to United’s tally, and at that point, a 3-1 lead.


United were then faced with the true Warriors batting juggernaut as they responded with five, taking control of game tactics and using their psychological nous.


First up Haley Lindner hit “a really good” pitch to Beck for a put out at first, Maddy Bignell singled to Tyler Kennett at second before her energised cousin Koop singled to centre.


Polderman grounded a tricky one to Sez Thomson at shortstop, as did Jarvo and United were on the ropes and swinging the changes.


“The Smiling Assassin” Mel Chuck then put one to Jacinta Packer at centre and scored two after Jarvo was waved round to home, colliding with catcher Codie Jackway who followed the wayward throw/hospital ball up the line and was always going to come off second best without the ball.


Bruggemann singled scoring Chuck, League runner up MVP Daena Wombwell legged out an infield single, Taylor Pearson chipped one in front of the speedy Packer who made the heads up play, throwing out Wombwell at second.


Lindner walked and Bignell flew out to Packer before the innings was done.


United were held to a donut in the third with a Billie Jones KC, Brooks enjoyed hitting off the Warriors veteran for another double to left, then Tylar Kennett patiently walked.


With runners on first and second, Bruggemann struck out White and made the last play off Jackway’s bat – putting her side back on offense where they stamped their authority with another six runs coming off the pitching of Billie Jones.


Polderman drilled one that took Brooks’ glove off at left, gliding round to third where she was held up but then scored on a Jarvo RBI to left.


Warriors had their rally caps on as Bruggemann walked, Wombwell forced an error, Pearson singled to right that scored two, and Kelly Doyle was in to hit, promptly disregarding the coach’s advice by hitting the first pitch she faced.


United played home on Doyle’s shot and this time it was Wombwell in under the tag.


Teresa Hatch came on for Bignell and walked, Koop hit a RBI single to centre and Polderman walked before Jarvo hit a fly ball that was caught by Brooks to end the innings.


United responded with one in the fourth after Packer got after the first pitch of the innings with a single to Disselbach now at right, Dana Jones was struck out taking “Sharapova’s” K count to six, Thomson flew out to Chuck and then Beck, determined not to be beaten by offspeed junk, spun one to right that went off at a right angle and Packer made it all the way home before Billie Jones hit the first pitch she faced straight down Koop’s throat at centre for the last out.


Mirroring United’s efforts, Warriors put another run on the board as Chuck drilled one but was caught, then Bruggemann did not but her hit was bobbled so it balanced the ledger.


Wombwell, having had a great day behind the plate, put down the sacrifice bunt as her side pressed to end the game mercy in four with “Dodsy” Dodds utilised as a substitution for her youthful speed to run.


She scored as Pearson hit in another run and was safe at first by a whisker much to United’s disappointment, but they finished the dig with a K2.


United dug deep in the fifth with Brooks singling to Chuck who was attempting to channel her inner-Simone Macdonald fielding the ball with her bare hand and without diving.


Kennett smoked one to Bruggemann but the pensioner was utilising her catching skills from a previous life, blocking the shot and lobbing it over to Pearson at first.


White had her old team’s number and singled to left that scored Brooks who had cruised round to third on the overthrow after stealing second.


Jackway then had Bruggemann in a lively conference with the plate umpire Jenny Burston about where the batting box was as she cleverly bunted herself on.


Packer singled to left for an RBI then Dana Jones stepped up and with two strikes and no balls, lined a sacrifice fly to Polderman before Thomson hit one to the tiring Bruggemann who again bocce lofted the ball to first for the out, but not before United had three additional runs and the score 7-12.


The coaching brains trust was aware of what was required and lead off Hatch singled to left then took advantage of a couple of wild pitches, finding herself at third with Koop walked.


Koop was gifted second base by United and Polderman was given the home run signal by the coach, zinging one to Dana Jones who calmly held the runner and played first.


It was Jarvo’s time to be the hero and she delivered with the bat (after pretending not to have noticed the two earlier bunts she did not field), the experienced campaigner got her pitch and ripped it to left, scoring both Hatch and Koop with the walk off win to her side.


The weather and the crowd were great, the Warriors cohort lifted to their feet to celebrate Taylor Pearson’s naming as the MVP of the game.


The young Warrior recognised for her all-round brilliance matched only by her support of her teammates.