In Friday night’s Division 1 game between South Indians and Federal at Blue Lake Sports Park Federal fired up in the first inning putting three runs on the scoreboard immediately.

Clay Carpenter picked a base on ball, Alex Reppin hit safely to centrefield, Matt Nicholls followed also with a safe-hit in the same direction which scored Carpenter and finally Craig Nicholls’ hit to rightfield scored both Reppin and his brother Matt.

They added a further run in the next dig after Alex Pearson drew a walk and scored on Alex Reppin’s sacrifice fly to centrefield.

Two uneventful innings followed with South unable to make any impression but the Demons put the game into mercy territory in the top of the fifth.

Alex Reppin teed off for a double to leftfield, Craig Nicholls’ hit to shortstop resulted in a wild throw across the diamond allowing Reppin to score, Nash Lobley beat out a throw from second base, Dean Searcy’s late connection to rightfield was dropped and Nicholls crossed the plate.

Young Will Vincent also got a shot out to rightfield which scored both Lobley and Searcy, Alex Pearson picked a second base on ball for the game and Clay Carpenter’s safe-hit to leftfield loaded the bases.

Alex Reppin’s third safety of the game batted in Vincent and Pearson, Matt Nicholls hit into an error loading the bases once more and Craig Nicholls was hit by the pitcher forcing Carpenter home before side away.

The Demons had scored seven runs from three safe-hits and three errors giving them a mercy run lead of 11 runs to nil.

The red and white finally scored in the even dig when Tarkyn Morale picked a walk and was put out at second when Ben Nash hit into a fielder’s choice at third base.

He scored when Jesse Balshaw hit to third base created an error leaving the Indians still with a deficit of 10 runs.

They cut that deficit by three in the next inning.

Blake McAdam on board after his hit down the third base line was errored, Tarkyn Morale picked a base on ball, McAdam scored on Ben Nash’s safe-hit to leftfield, Morale crossed on Deegan Habner’s hit to a fielder’s choice to shortstop and he was batted in by Phoenix Cole’s safety to centrefield.

It was back into mercy territory in the top of the seventh.

Alex Pearson, Clay Carpenter and Alex Reppin were all hit by pitched balls loading the bases.

Pearson scored on Matt Nicholl’s hit to rightfield, Carpenter crossed home plate on a wild pitch, Nash Lobley drew a walk as did Dean Searcy which forced Reppin across the plate.

The Indians’ centrefielder Ryan Walter got things going again for the home team when he slammed a huge three bagger to left centrefield to stand up at third base and added to the score when he stepped on home after a wild pitch.

Blake McAdam picked up a safe-hit to leftfield and scored when Tarkyn Morale hit to shortstop created a huge wild throw to first.

Going into the eighth Federal led 14 runs to six with the Indians seemingly still in the hunt for two points.

Federal put paid to that.

At the top of the lineup both Alex Pearson and Clay Carpenter singled, Alex Reppin’s sacrifice fly scored Pearson, Matt Nicholls triple to deep rightfield batted in Carpenter, Craig Nicholl’s safe-hit to centrefield batted in Matt and Craig followed soon after on a wild pitch giving the Demons a lead of 12 runs so South requiring three to go to the ninth.

With encouragement from a vocal crowd unfortunately they could only muster a solitary run.

Riley Parsons picked a base on ball and was batted in by Jesse Balshaw who hit safely to centrefield.

Federal had 15 safe-hits for 14 runs batted in, seven base on ball, four hit batters, 12 strikeouts and made four errors.

South had eight safe-hits for four runs batted in, four base on ball, one hit batter, seven strikeouts and made four errors.

CENTRAL HOLD ON FROM TIGERS

It was all over in an hour and 45 minutes. As the saying goes a good game is a quick game and this held true in Saturday evening’s Division 1 game between Central and Tigers at Blue Lake Sports Park.

In a game that was dominated by pitchers from both teams Central took better advantage when the opportunities arose.

Apart from a safe-hit from Central first baseman Nathan Meinck in the bottom of the first, both sides went three up and three down for the first two digs.

In the bottom of the third the Magpies opened the scoring when Colby Muller’s hit to third base was fielded but thrown wild across the diamond to put him at first.

Kyall McClean came up with a single to rightfield forcing Muller to second and he then stole to third.

In an attempt to ping Muller back to third the throw from the catch went wild allowing him to score the first run of the game in favour of the black and white.

Nathan Meinck then crunched a two bagger to centrefield scoring McClean.

Both teams got a couple of runners on in the fifth but both failed to score as both pitchers stepped up ensuring they did not add to the scoreboard.

Central added their third and final run for the game in the seventh when Kyall McClean picked up his second hit of the game and was duly batted in when Dylan Chuck’s hit to centrefield landed safe.

From the sixth inning Tigers failed to get a runner on base never challenging the tight pitching from the two Magpies chuckers Dylan Chuck seven innings and Alex Ridding two.

Karl Ransom pitched the whole game for Tigers.

Central had 10 safe-hits for two runs batted in, three strikeouts and made one error.

Tigers had two safe-hits, 10 strikeouts and made six errors.

Such was the quality of both teams’ pitchers not one base on ball or hit batter was given up.