The Mount Gambier Softball League opened their 2021 season with a beautiful ceremony to celebrate and remember the life of Concordes stalwart Tammy Jones, who sadly lost her battle with cancer last week.

This meant emotions were high in the first match when Billie Jones led Concordes White against Warriors White.

Concordes was determined from the get-go to put on a good show and Alli Kreplins was on the mound.

She helped retire the side in the first innings, with an exceptional double play after a safe hit from Erin Chaplin and also hold Warriors scoreless in the second, including two strike outs.

Concordes then piled on the runs in a great display of power hitting, scoring nine runs in the first and 10 in the second, thanks to three safe hits from Jones and two RBIs each to Sam Brown and Jo Hopgood.

Both teams then had pitching changes, with Sarah Polderman pitching well for Warriors to limit the damage in the third to only one further run.

Warriors hit the scoreboard thanks to safe hits from Polderman and Lyndall Feast.

In the end it was a dominant display by Concordes White, which ran out easy winners 20-2 on a special afternoon.

Concordes United continued the hot hitting display against reigning premier Demons on Saturday afternoon.

Dana Jones led from the front, with a massive five safe hits including a triple and a double.

Filling in for United, Billie Jones continued her huge day with a further five hits, while Leonie McCallum and Bec Von Duve also had four safe hits each.

Demons battled hard, with Jordi Gower pitching accurately, but Concordes continually found the gaps despite the best efforts of Jorja Morale, who made some solid stops at third base and Fiona Young who took some great catches at left field.

Dana Jones also pitched well for Concordes and was helped out by sister Billie who dominated the outfield and new comer Kimberley Prince being a ball magnet at second base.

Best with the bat for Demons were Bella Morale and Sarah Nieuwenhuizen.

Concordes scored in every innings, with six in both the second and third innings setting the tone for their comfortable 21-11 victory.

Wanderers and Warriors Blue returned to diamond three on Saturday afternoon.

Blues’ newcomer Vicky Taylor epitomised the Warriors spirit volunteering to fill in for Wanderers to make the sides even at eight apiece.

She was calm in the field playing second base, shrugging off being hit by a pitched ball in her first plate appearance.

Wanderers pitcher Fiona Finch held the Blue’s bats quiet, picking up four strikeouts and a safe hit of her own.

Lily Finch was a stand-out with two safe hits and many important blocks behind the plate catching for her mother.

Tracey Anderson was also solid in contributing with a catch at centrefield off the dangerous bat of Blue’s Beck White, while also having two safe hits.

Always claiming to be retiring, Jo Hart had three safe hits and Em Hart one with numerous plays at shortstop.

Youngster Charli Kaigg swung the bat with purpose and will definitely be a player to watch for Wanderers as the season progresses.

Warriors Blue scored every innings, in the first two runs were scored off a sharp single to left-field by Kelly Doyle.

First gamers Elly Hogben and Jasmine Disselbach saw plenty of action in the field as well as solid bat on ball, Hogben with a safe hit and Disselbach unlucky having hit a line drive to pitcher Finch.

Skylea McClean pressured Wanderers field with her footspeed, gaining herself a safe hit, as did Daena Wombwell, Leyna Bruggemann and Mel Chuck.

Chuck’s support and leadership was standout accompanied by White and Doyle.

Bruggemann had a shaky start with her pitching, eventually regaining control and finding the strike zone much her team’s relief.

Blues ran out victors 8 – 6.