Friday night saw powerhouse Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 club Central combatants with Tigers.

The orange and black batted first and got off to a good start by way of two walks to Ben Marcus and Harrison Elletson, who were both then batted in by Kane Harrison’s two bagger to leftfield.

However, their early optimism was shortlived.

Pitcher Kane Harrison saw 13 batters face him in the bottom of the first.

His radar was off, throwing three base on ball, two hit batters, gave up two hits and nine runs while the team created two expensive errors before he removed himself from the mound.

Two more runs crossed home on a triple from Alex Ridding on reliever Jake Powell.

Powell then proceeded to keep the black and white scoreless for the next two digs but they went for broke in the bottom of the fourth.

Aided again by four base on ball, another hit batter and three field errors, Central added a further eight runs to give them a mercy winning lead 20 runs to 2.

Tigers fought back in the top of the fifth scoring three consolation runs from relief pitcher Dylan Gull.

Matt Thompson singled as did coach Kane Harrison.

They were both batted in when Jake Powell hammered a double to centrefield.

He then scored on Ben Marcus’ Texas Leaguer to centrefield before the final out was made.

Not to be denied Dylan Chuck, in the bottom of the fifth, singled to rightfield and scored as did Alex Ridding who blasted the ball to deep rightfield for an in the park home run to complete the hitting cycle.

A cycle is a single, double, triple and home run in the one game.

Central’s two pitchers gave up five base on ball, six safe hits, five runs, made two errors and picked up seven strikeouts.

Tigers’ three pitchers gave up 10 base on ball, three hit batters, 12 safe hits, 22 runs (10 earned), made five errors and picked up four strikeouts.

SOUTH V FEDERAL

South opened the scoring in the bottom of the first in Saturday afternoon’s Division 1 game against Federal.

Lead off batter Tarkyn Morale singled to left field and crossed home after Blake McAdam’s infield hit to third base resulted in a wild throw from that player.

However, from there on it was all downhill.

The Demons bounced back in the top of the second dig.

Clay Carpenter picked a base on ball, the next two batters were struck out, Dean Searcy and Owen Wheatley both singled as did Nash Lobley whose hit pushed both Carpenter and Searcy home before the inning was wrapped up.

In the fourth Federal let loose, a base on ball, an error at first and another walk loaded the bases.

All three scored on Nash Lobley’s triple to deep leftfield.

Riley Rolph singled and added to the score on Alex Pearson’s Texas leaguer.

Rolph crossed the plate on Craig Nicholls’ sacrifice fly to centrefield and a hit from Clay Carpenter was followed by a walk by Jordan Johnson.

Roy Hutchesson’s sacrifice fly scored Pearson, Dean Searcy hit into an infield error, Owen Wheatley’s safety to leftfield scored Carpenter, a walk by Nash Lobley pushed Johnson home, a ball that got past the catcher saw Searcy cross.

A base on ball to Riley Rolph and consecutive hit pitched balls gained Federal two more runs with a total of 11 for the dig.

The Indians were unable to make an impression in the even inning.

Three walks, a hit batter and two more safe hits added a final six runs to the Demons’ score while the Indians scored a consolation two runs in the final even inning.

Deegan Habner hit safely to leftfield and scored on an infield error on Blake McAdam’s contact with the ball.

He hit home when Branden Horrigan’s hit also to the infield created a wild throw.

For the red and white, Ben Nash gave up 10 base on ball, three hit batters, 10 safe hits and 19 runs.

He picked up three strikeouts while the team made three errors.

Riley Rolph for Federal had three walks, three safe hits and three runs while he picked up two strikeouts and the team made six errors.

The match finished 19-3 in Federals favour.