Three Division one baseball games were played in the weekend prior to Christmas – two games to complete round 10 and a catchup game between the two Centrals teams.

SOUTH INDIANS IN A BIG SCORING GAME AT MILLICENT

The Indians were up and about in the very first inning at Millicent. Brad Walkom picked a base on ball, Ryan Placuuci singled to centre field, Jett Lewis hit into an infield error which scored Walkom, Brent Masterman’s hit to an out to third base scored Placucci, Lewis touched home on a passed ball, both Ben Nash and Zac Ratcliffe were thrown walks, Nash crossed on a wild pitch, Ratcliffe was batted in by Jakob Walkom and he was batted in by Blake McAdam’s single to centre field giving South a huge six run start.

South added three more runs in the top of the second dig. A pitching lapse by the Millicent pitcher saw both Ryan Placucci and Jett Lewis draw a walk and Ryan Walter was hit by a pitched ball loading the bases. Ben Nash hit into a fielder’s choice which scored Placucci while Zac Ratcliffe’s clout to right field scored both Lewis and Walter.

The Bandits hit back in the bottom of the second scoring five. Five consecutive single base hits were recorded by the first five batters hitting to all parts of the field. Nick Cory to third base, Jack Hateley to centre field, Saxon Altschwager to left field scoring Cory, Phil Altschwager to left field, David Langley drew a walk which scored Hateley and to finish off a huge stand-up triple to Jordan Johnson to see the two Altschwagers and Langley cross the home plate.

A series of errors by the Millicent defence set up the red and white’s next two runs in the fifth. A wild throw from third base resulted in Brad Wallom arriving at first then a wild throw from short stop on Ryan Plcuuci’s hit saw him at second and scored Walkom and then some wily base running from Placucci saw him steal home.

Millicent continued to fight back in the bottom of the fifth adding a further four important runs. Anthony Mutton at first on an error, Tom Winkley singed to left field, Jack Hateley doubled deep to centre field scoring both Mutton and Winkley, Saxon Altshwager clobbered another stand-up triple to leftfield to bat in Hateley and Phil Altshwager batted in Saxon Altschwager reducing the Indians lead to just two runs.

There were two more runs in the top of the sixth for South both unearned. Jakob Walkom was hit by the pitcher, brother Brad hit safely to left field and they were both batted in by Ryan Walter.

The Bandits kept themselves in the game in their at bat coming within a run of South’s score. Jordan Johnson at first on a wild throw and batted in by Anthony Mutton. Tom Winkley at first on a fielder’s choice with Mutton pinged at second. Nick Cory hit safely to left field as did Jack Hateley which scored Winkley and Saxon Altschwager’s third safe hit of the game scored Cory.

South probably put the game beyond doubt in the top of the eighth when they extended the lead to four with time running out. Phoenix Cole picked a base on ball as did Jett Lewis, Cole crossed on a wild pitch, Ryan Walter’s infield hit resulted in an error and the same for Linkon Ratcliffe the result seeing both Lewis and Ryan scoring.

Unfortunately, the game time limit of three hours was reached and neither team had the ninth inning available to add to their score. South had 7 safe hits, 9 base on ball, 3 hit batters, 8 runs batted in, 9 strikeouts and made 4 errors. Millicent had 16 safe hits, 1 base on ball, 12 runs batted in, 7 strikeouts and made 7 errors.

TIGERS TAME MAGPIES

Tigers took control of the game against Central Magpies in the Division one game at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday afternoon from the get-go. Lead off batter Riley Parsons picked a base on ball and was batted in by Cooper Pitkin to get the party started. Three more in the third and the Tigers were growling. Cooper Pitkin drew a walk, Matt Thompson kept his batting average up as he doubled for the second time in the game this time to left field, Jake England’s hit into a fielder’s choice knocked in Pitkin, Joe Sims also collected a base on ball, Pat Kermond’s hit into a fielders choice saw Thompson cross the plate and finally Sims was batted in by Riley Parson’s Texas Leaguer to leftfield to give Tigers a four run to nil lead.

Two more in the fourth extended the lead to six. A wild throw from his hit to third base resulted in Cooper Pitkin arriving at first. He ran three bases on Matt Thompson’s third consecutive safe hit, a double to left field and ultimately touched home on Jake England’s infield hit for an out.

The Magpies achieved scoreboard status in the bottom of the fourth when Justin Tzioutziouklaris picked a walk and was batted in by Mitch Cutting when he hit safely to left field.

The orange and black team added further misery for Central Magpies when they scored four more times in the sixth. Cameron Scott dropped one short of left field, Cooper Pitkin on base for the third time in the game was hit by the pitcher, Riley Rolph singled to short stop loading the bases, Jake England picked a walk forcing Scott across the plate, Joe Sims hit into a fielder’s choice and subsequent wild throw saw Pitkin home, and finally Pat Kermond’s single to left field scored both England and Sims.

In the bottom of the ninth Tigers put the game beyond reach adding two more runs. Riley Parson’s tripled over the head of right field to stand-up at third. He scored on Cameron Scott’s hit to short stop which resulted in a wild throw, and he followed home for Tigers’ 12th run on Jake England’s sacrifice fly to left field.

The black and white put up a little challenge in their final at bat when with two out Cooper Smith nailed a safe hit to left field, Brad Lynagh was thrown a base on ball, both Jake Turner and Justin Tzioutziouklaris were hit by the pitcher which forced Smith across the plate.

However, Tigers were up to the challenge and made the necessary third out for a 12run to two result in their favour.

Tigers had 9 safe hits, 10 base on ball, 2 hit batters, 12 runs batted in, 9 strikeouts and made 3 errors. Central Magpies had 8 safe hits, 4 base on ball, 3 hit batters, 2 runs batted in, 8 strikeouts and made 4 errors.

DIVISION 1

South Indians 16 def Millicent 12

Safe hits

South Indians – Ryan Placucci 2, Brad Walkom, Jett Lewis, Zac Ratcliffe, Jakob Walkom, Blake McAdam 1

Millicent – Jordan Johnson, Saxon Altschwager, Jack Hateley, Nick Cory 3, Anthony Mutton 2, Tom Winkley, Phil Altschwager 1

Tigers 12 def Central Magpies 2

Safe hits

Tigers – Matt Thompson 4, Riley Parsons 2, Cameron Scott, Riley Rolph, Pat Kermond 1

Central Magpies – Blade Sturges 3, Mitchell Ruwoldt 2, Brad Lynagh, Mitch Cutting, Jordy Carrison 1

DIVISION 2

Tigers 10 def Central Magpies 1

Safe hits

Tigers – Adam Falland 3, Cooper Pitkin, Paul Falland, Flynn Hillstone 2, Dave Pitkin 1

Central Magpies – Andrew Hoath 2

South Indians 8 def Federal 3

Safe Hits

South Indians – Kevin Joyce, Haydn Timms 2, Ken Rowe, Ben Kroon, Steve Lewis, Darryn Cole, Ben Daglaitis 1

Federal – Hamish Thomson 2, Owen Wheatley, Simon Wright, Jack Howard 1

Central 9 def Naracoorte 0 on forfeit

BIG LEAGUE

Tigers 7 drew South Indians 7

Safe hits

Tigers – Henry Martin 2, Owen Wheatley, Toby McKinnon, Cooper Pitkin, Jarvi Mee 1

South Indians – Jett Lewis 2, Phoenix Cole, Brad Meek, Oliver Plunkett 1

JUNIOR LEAGUE

Tigers 15 def South/Federal 0

Safe hits

Tigers – Duke Bradley, Titan Dumigan 2, Sam Marcus, Tahj Pitkin 1

South/Federal – Nil

LITTLE LEAGUE

Central 10 def Federal 4

Safe hits

Central – Connor Ruwoldt, Levi Nicholas 2, Levi Fisher, Axel Reeves 1

Federal – Nathaniel Elletson 3, Bank Stephen 2, Rowen Patzel, Tyeken Kelly, Jack Freckleton 1

MINOR LEAGUE

Central 7 def Tigers Black 2

Safe hits

Central – Jordan Scherer, Harley Mitchell, Jed Cutting, Will Mitchell 3, Walker Summers, Ethan Albert 2, Chaise Dickson 1

Tigers Black – Alfie Merchant, Hayden Cowley, Carter Hutchesson 2, Jax Sargeant, Cooper Corfield, Oliver Sims, Mitchell Hammer, Younis Abdelaty, Digby Newman, Spencer Koppe 1

Tigers 12 def Federal 4

Safe hits

Tigers – Alfie Merchant, Arthur Merchant, Oliver Sims, Kiedis Jeffree, Hayden Bowley 2, Hunter Livingston, Blake Humphries, Lilly Chant, Jax Sargeant 1

Federal – Banks Stephen 2, Nathaniel Ellitson, Tyeken Kelly, Connor Bonnitatibus 1