It turned out to be a glorious day for softball as Warriors Blue faced the in-form Concordes United who were coming off of a spirited and convincing mercy win over last season’s premiers Demons.
The Blue and United game was the only one held as Wanderers celebrated nuptials and Demons asked Warriors White to reschedule due to player unavailability – all clubs showed the flexibility and the sportsmanship the league strives to keep softball alive.
Warriors Blue were happy to score two early runs as lead off hitter Daena Wombwell picked a walk, was moved around by a sacrifice bunt by Angela Queale, then an RBI single to Leyna Bruggemann.
Bruggemann was then scored after successive hits to Mel Chuck and Skylea McLean.
McLean again impressing with her leg speed pressure with two safe hits and two RBIs for the day, covering the ground well at left for Blues.
Not to be deterred, United swung their bats hard with Leonie McCallum’s unorthodox batting grip showing dividends with two cracking hits.
Sarah Thompson bounced back after smoking a line drive off the first pitch she faced for the game to Blue’s pitcher Bruggemann, to then have two safe hits and several plays at short stop.
Dana Jones was consistent on the mound for United and pressured Blues field being two of the five runs United scored for the day.
She had a double as did her sister Codie Jackway, both slightly unhinged by change of pace pitching.
Sam Brown bounced back with two safe hits, Bec VonDuve one as well as having a safe glove at first base.
Kate Altschwager for United continued to relish hitting off the Blue’s pitching with a cracking single to left field.
Warriors Blue scored in four of the six innings, the last via a Bec White long ball, all hitters getting bat on ball including rookies Vicky Taylor, who also had plenty of action at second base, Elly Hogben and Jasmine Disselbach.
The Warriors field was shaky in the last innings letting four unearned runs in for a 5-5 draw.
Jones struck out two Blues hitters and Bruggemann was relieved to have remembered where the strike zone was with six K2s with plenty of supportive banter between her and third base Queale who nearly lost her glove care of a Hannah Taylor line drive in the second innings.
United also had a newcomer in Tammie Kovaleff who put bat on ball and roamed the outfield with a smile on her face.
Her team takes on Wanderers next, Blues go up against their sister team in Warriors White, leaving Concordes White to face Demons at BSLP.
Games are at 1pm and 3pm.
