In a game of nip and tuck, Tigers finished victors in Friday night’s Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 baseball game under lights against South Indians.
South was the first cab off the rank and drew first blood when leadoff batter Ben Nash hit solidly to leftfield and was batted in by Jesse Balshaw when he hit safely to centre field.
They added another in the top of the next inning after Tigers failed to trouble the scorers.
Travis Lockwood hit safely to rightfield and scored on Ryan Walters’ sacrifice fly also to rightfield.
Not to let the game get away from them early, Tigers’ Jai Hillstone hit to third base resulted in a wild throw and he subsequently scored on a fielder’s choice hit from Jarvi
Mee.
The Indians doubled their score in their next at bat after Blake McAdam’s hit dropped in front of the centrefielder and Jesse Balshaw’s hit into the infield only saw the throw across the diamond errored by the first baseman.
McAdam crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice closely followed by Balshaw from another sacrifice fly.
Tigers were back in the game in the even dig.
Mitchell Thomson drew a walk as did both Matt Thompson and Kane Harrison to load the bases.
Jake Powell then power hit the ball to the fence at rightfield scoring all three runners, tying the game at four runs apiece.
Tigers added another in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead by one after Jarvi Mee picked a base on ball and was batted in on Matt Thompson’s safe-hit to leftfield.
Both teams failed to score in the next two innings but then South clawed back the lead plus one more with the weather starting to set in.
Wade Chant’s hit to shortstop created a wild throw and with two out he crossed home plate on Ryan Placucci’s double to leftfield.
He scored when Deklin Joyce’s hit to third base resulted in a wild throw.
With the weather further deteriorating the orange and black fought straight back.
Matt Thompson beat the first baseman, who fielded the ball, to the bag.
Jake Powell then picked up his third safe-hit for the night, a double to centrefield, which scored Thompson.
Jake England’s safe-hit to leftfield scored Powell to give Tigers back the lead by one.
With playing conditions now the worst they had been for the night the ball became very slippery, creating problems for both pitchers and fielders.
Both teams had trouble, making many fielding errors and pitchers unable to find the strike zone.
Tigers took full advantage of the conditions to go further ahead and set up a winning position.
Karl Ransom singled to centrefield, now two out, Matt Thompson on base from an infield error and Kane Harrison hit by a wayward pitch loading the bases.
All three scored when Jake Powell’s hit back to the pitcher was thrown way wild of the first baseman to give them a four run advantage going into the last inning.
Jesse Balshaw’s hit to shortstop was errored, Deklin Joyce and Travis Lockwood both picked a walk loading the bases for South.
Ryan Walter singled scoring Balshaw and both Joyce and Lockwood crossed the plate on Ryan Walter’s hit to leftfield which landed safely.
Walter scored on another error after Wade Chant ‘s safe-hit also to leftfield before side out.
With the scores now level Tigers needed a run to save the game from going to extra innings with time still play but the conditions not so good.
South pitcher Ryan Placucci found this to be so as he walked Cameron Scott and hit Jarvi Mee giving them two on and none out.
Karl Ransom stepped up to the plate and hit his second consecutive safe-hit to centrefield scoring Scott which proved to be the winning run.
Tigers picked up eight base on ball, four hit batters, 10 safe-hits for eight runs batted in and made 10 errors.
South picked three walks, nine safe-hits for seven runs batted in and made only four errors.
CENTRAL NOTCHES UP MERCY WIN
After shutting out Central in the top of the first inning in Saturday night’s ball game under lights at Blue Lake Sports Park, Federal were up and about.
They opened their account with their lead off batter Jordan Johnson who singled to rightfield, Riley Rolph was then hit by the pitcher, Craig Nicholls also singled to load the bases.
Hamish Thomson then picked a walk which forced Johnson across the plate.
Riley Rolph scored from Dean Searcy’s hit into an infield error.
From then on unfortunately for the green and red it was all black and white.
Central did not hit the scoreboard until the top of the third.
With two out Dave Harris doubled to centrefield, Dylan Chuck picked a walk, Harris scored on a wild pitch and Alex Ridding’s triple scored Chuck.
In the next inning Josh Chuck singled as did Sam Ruwoldt.
Jobe Harten’s hit to second base resulted in a wild throw scoring Chuck.
Colby Muller picked a base on ball, Dave Harris’ high fly ball to centrefield was dropped and scored Ruwoldt.
Still with bases loaded Koby Chant hit into a huge error at short stop and due to some intelligent baserunning all three on bases scored.
In the top of the fifth Josh Chuck found himself at first once more after his hit to the infield was errored and then Sam Ruwoldt beat the throw to first from the second sacker.
Chuck crossed the home plate on a wild throw from the Federal catcher and he was soon followed by Ruwoldt who was batted in by Dave Harris.
In the penultimate innings two more runs were added when Josh Chuck again singled, Jobe Harten’s fly ball was dropped by the centrefielder and they were both batted in by Colby Muller’s triple.
This then gave them the 10 run mercy rule however the two hours of play was not up so the game continued into the seventh.
The Magpies were not finished as with a change of pitcher Dylan Chuck, Alex Ridding and Koby Chant all received walks loading the bases.
Chuck was batted in by Dylan Gull’s hit into a fielder’s choice and Josh Chuck’s third single of the game batted in Ridding giving Central a 14-2 win.
Central had seven base on ball, 13 safe-hits for 11 runs batted in and had 10 strikeouts while making no errors.
Federal had two base on ball, one hit batter, three safe-hits for two runs batted in, picked up 14 strikeouts and made five errors.
