The Millicent Bandits found themselves the victim of a hold up, as Central proved too good in the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League, with the Bandits going down by seven.
Lead off batter for Central in the bottom of the first, Dave Harris picked a base on ball and eventually crossed home on a wild pitch.
Batting through the lineup plus one in the next inning Central added five runs all unearned.
Back from uni, Patrick O’Hehir shot one out to leftfield then with two out Dave Harris hit safely to second base as he beat out the throw.
Nathan Meinck then hit to shortstop which drew a wild throw, scoring both O’Hehir and Harris.
Dylan Chuck rocked one out to centrefield, Alex Ridding drew a walk, Dylan Gull crunched a pitch to centrefield which scored both Meinck and Chuck.
In the meantime Alex Ridding had picked a walk and he crossed on a wild throw giving the black and white a six run to nil lead.
Millicent got on the board in the top of the third when also with two out, Anthony Mutton walked and was batted in by Saxon Altschwager’s outfield safety to centrefield.
In the bottom half of this inning, Patrick O’Hehir singled to centrefield and Bree Ridding singled to leftfield.
Dylan Chuck’s Texas Leaguer to leftfield scored O’Hehir and Ridding crossed from second when the hit got past the leftfielder.
The Bandits added two in the fifth when Jordan Johnson’s hit to third base was errored and he was batted in by Anthony Mutton who hit deep into leftfield.
Saxon Altschwager arrived at first after a wild throw from the catcher and after Mutton was thrown out at the plate Altschwager scored on a passed ball.
Central clawed one of those back in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Ridding’s hit to shortstop drew a wild throw and was batted in by Dylan Gull, with Central in front 9-3.
Before shutting down the Millicent batters for the rest of the game, Nathan Meinck hit safely to centrefield and was batted in by Dylan Gull.
Central had 11 safe hits, six walks, one hit batter, nine runs batted in, three strikeouts and made two errors.
Millicent had seven safe hits, two walks, two runs batted in, nine strikeouts and made five errors.
SOUTH INDIANS AND CENTRAL GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Indians were away to a fantastic start in the second Division 1 game at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday evening.
After keeping the Magpies scoreless batting in the bottom half of the first dig they pushed four runs across the plate.
Consecutive walks to Phoenix Cole and Ryan Whitwell saw them batted home by Ben Nash who crushed a pitch out to rightfield.
Next batter up Ryan Placucci was hit by the pitcher.
Nash was batted in by Brent Masterman who continued his good form when he hit safely to centrefield and Placucci was batted in by Jett Lewis’ sacrifice fly to centrefield.
Central Magpies pulled one back in the top of the second after Mitchell Cutting’s hit to third base resulted in a wild throw across the diamond.
Justin Tzioutziouklaris’ safe hit to rightfield scored Cutting.
The Indians pulled away further in the bottom of the fourth when they added two.
Phoenix Cole and Ryan Whitwell both singled to centrefield with Cole crossing on Ben Nash’s sacrifice bunt to first and Whitwell crossed Ryan Placucci’s sharp hit to centerfield, giving them a game high six run to one lead.
Through a series of errors in the top of the fifth, the red and white let the Magpies back in the game with two out and the wheels fell off.
Justin Tzioutziouklaris started the ball rolling with a single to leftfield, Blade Sturges hit to third base creating an error, Lauchie Tilley hit safely to centrefield giving Tzioutziouklaris the opportunity to cross home plate, Cooper Smith batted in Sturges, Mitchell Ruwoldt’s hit to leftfield scored Tilley and the subsequent error allowed Smith to cross and their fifth and tying run came when Brad Lynagh’s single to leftfield scored Ruwoldt.
South regained the lead in the sixth when Ryan Whitwell’s hit to shortstop was errored and he was batted in by Brent Masterman.
Central hit the front in the eighth when Lauchie Tilley slapped a nice hit to rightfield and was batted in by Mitchell Ruwoldt’s big two bagger which bounced over the fence at rightfield.
He scored on a wild throw from the catcher.
South were not daunted and replied with the same.
Ryan Whitwell singled to leftfield, Ryan Placucci was hit by the pitcher and they both scored on an error when Jet Lewis hit the ball hard at third base.
The Magpies were unable to score in the top of the ninth, giving South a nine run to eight win.
South had seven safe hits, eight base on ball, three hit batters, seven runs batted in, nine strikeouts and made six errors.
Central Magpies had 16 safe hits, one base on ball, six runs batted in, three strikeouts and made two errors.
