After three up three down for both Millicent and Central in the first inning in the return of Mount Gambier and District Baseball League action in the new year, scoring started with Central in the top of the second.
Alex Ridding singled to centre field, Dave Harris doubled to the same spot, Ridding stole home and Harris scored on a wild throw.
Millicent was on the scoreboard when Nick Cory hit into an infielder which resulted in a wild throw landing him at second base.
He was batted in by Darcy Pink.
Eleven Central batters faced up in top of the fourth resulting in six runners crossing home plate.
Dylan Gull hit long to left field, Josh Chuck was hit by the pitcher, Colby Muller singled to shortstop scoring Gull, Kyall McClean picked up his second safe hit which saw Muller cross the plate on a wild throw and Nathan Meinck hit into a fielder’s choice which scored McClean.
Dylan Chuck picked a base on ball, Alex Ridding also hit safely to shortstop and a wild throw saw Chuck home and Ridding was batted in by Dylan Gull.
Another six in the fifth rounded off the scoring spree for the black and white.
Josh Chuck drew a walk, Colby Muller hit into an infield error, Kyall McClean’s second consecutive single pushed Chuck and Muller across home, Nathan Meinck doubled to right field, Dylan Chuck’s flyball to left field went down allowing McClean to score and Koby Chant hit into a fie lder’s choice which saw him safe at first base.
The hits kept coming with Dylan Gull again hitting a two-bagger this time to centre field, Dave Harris’s Texas Leaguer to right field scored Chant, Josh Chuck batting for the second time in the innings picked another walk loading the bases, Colby Muller was hit by the pitcher forcing Gull over the dish giving Central a 14-1 lead.
The Bandits tried hard in the bottom of the fifth scoring two.
With two out Dave Langley picked a base on ball, Josh Vanderhorst hit safely to centre field as did Saxon Altschwager which scored Langley, Tom Winkley picked a walk which loaded the bases and finally Coach Nick Cory hit into an infield error scoring Vanderhorst before the game came to an end.
Central had had 14 safe hits, five base on ball, three hit batters, seven runs batted in, one strikeout and made four errors.
Millicent had four safe hits, three base on ball, one hit batter, two runs batted in, 10 strikeouts and made five errors.
INDIANS HOLD ON AGAINST MAGPIES
In a game that did not blow out at any stage South held on over a gallant Central Magpies in the Division 1 game at Blue Lake Sports Park.
Batting first South scored three runs.
Consecutive walks to Ben Nash, Zac Ratcliffe, Ryan Placucci and Ryan Walter did not help the Magpies’ cause.
Nash stole home, Placucci scored on a wild pitch and Ryan Walter was batted in by Brent Masterman.
Central Magpies fired straight back with three runs of their own.
Mitchell Ruwoldt picked a walk, Brad Lynagh shot one out to right field which scored Ruwoldt, Mitch Cutting landed one safely to left field, Blades Sturges and Jordan Carrison both picked base on ball loading the bases.
Sam Ruwoldt also picked a walk which forced Cutting home and Jobe Harten lobbed a safe hit to left field which scored Sturges.
The Indians put the pressure on the top of the third scoring five.
Ben Nash picked another walk, Zac Ratcliffe was hit by a pitched ball, Ryan Placucci beat out a throw for third base which loaded the bases.
Ryan Walter picked a walk forcing Nash home, Brent Masterman batted in Ratcliffe, Walter was out on a play at home after a hit from Jet Lewis and both Masterman and Lewis were batted in by Deegan Habner, Zac Ratcliff scored another run in the fourth after he drew a walk and was batted in by Ryan Walter’s sacrifice fly.
In the even fourth Magpies started to claw back the deficit.
Mitchell Ruwoldt hit safely to right field and was batted in by Brad Lynagh.
They added two more in the next dig.
Sam Ruwoldt on base on an error, Jobe Harten was hit by the pitcher, Bree Ridding’s hit to an out scored Ruwoldt and Mitchell Ruwoldt’s crunch to centre field saw Harten home.
Two more in the fifth saw Central draw closer.
Sam Ruwoldt on first on an error, Jobe Harten was hit by a pitched ball, Bree Ridding batted in Ruwoldt and Mitchell Ruwoldt batted in Harten.
Another two saw them even closer in the next dig.
Jake Turner took another hit to the body and Jordan Carrison got on a fielder’s choice.
They were both batted in by Jobe Harten’s blast to centre field with the score now being South Indians nine to Central Magpies eight, setting up what was to be an enthralling last inning.
Blake McAdam hit out to left field where the difficult chance was put down and Ben Nash found himself at first on an error.
Ryan Placucci batted both in with a great hit to left field.
Mitchell Cutting for Central slammed one out to centre field and was batted in by Jobe Harten with his third safe hit of the game, but the team left the tying runs on base with the Indians victors by two runs.
South Indians had four safe hits, eight base on ball, two hit batters, eight runs batted in, three strikeouts and made one error.
Central Magpies had 11 safe hits, seven base on ball, two hit batters, nine runs batted in, two strikeouts and made one error.
