The Mount Gambier softball community could not have asked for a better day with history being made in an all Concordes grand final.

The stage was set when the second youngest of the three Jones daughters, Billie for Whites, won the toss and put her sister’s side United in to hit.

Billie Jones started pitching duties, getting two infield ground outs before league MVP and RBI winner Dana Jones brought the game to life.

After she doubled to left field and elder sister Codie Jackway legged out an infield single, Montana Millard smashed a triple to right field scoring what would be United’s two runs for the seven inning game.

After setting up the big play Dana Jones pitched with grit and patience, inducing three fly balls but was not able to get one past Billie, who singled to centre for one of her two hits for the day.

Base runners became as rare as hen’s teeth until the fifth when United’s Leonie McCallum found a gap between three fielders, leading with a single before moving around care of a Dana Jones BB and Jackway’s single to Jo Hopgood at left.

Whites were then up against it with the dangerous Millard in the box and loaded bases when White pitcher Alli Kreplins dug deep and elicited an infield fly retiring Millard.

Then Bec Von Duve had everyone’s hearts in their throats as she drilled the ball to centre.

It looked destined to be a double but Kate Altschwager plucked the ball from the sky with an amazing catch to end the inning.

Whites came out with their lead off Dodds getting hit by a Montana Millard pitch.

She was understandably rattled and was part of a subsequent double play when Mackenzie Millard caught a Hopgood fly ball.

In the sixth inning facing Billie Jones, United had a two-out hit to Mackenzie Millard, who tore around the bases only to be snuffed out by a piece of solid defence by Maddie Bowd at second for White.

Bowd led off with a single to Amber Linquist and stole second but Dana Jones covered huge ground at left to dismiss Brown before Bowd ended up scoring on a passed ball as ‘super sub’ Brandi Miller applied pressure and patience despite the nerves against Montana Millard’s speedy pitching.

The game went down to the last inning and the Jones family was at it again.

Dana Jones started with a leadoff single and moved to second on a wild pitch as Jackway faced her 16th pitch of the game.

Bille Jones remained focused and maintained her psychological edge over Jackway then retiring the next two hitters in succession.

Her side then needed to score one to stay alive and put the game into an extra innings.

Billie Jones rose to the occasion scoring a clutch two out single before Bagshaw stepped up and lasered a shot up the middle, moving the former to third.

The crowd was on its feet as McCallum – cool as a cucumber – made the last play of the game throwing over to Von Duve.

Celebrations were grand among the Concordes’ girls with Dana Jones named best player in the grand final before going on to claim more league honours beating out both sister Bille for RBIs and Warriors’ Leyna Bruggemann for MVP by two votes.

Jackway nearly pipped Bruggemann for the batting award to round it out for the Jones family – watched on by their proud dad Geoff and celebrating in their late mum Tammy’s honour.

League president Sonia Wilson was surprised to receive the coveted Marj Cooke award for service to softball, as always underestimating her own valuable contribution despite being a clear and deserving winner.

Victorious Concordes United coach Hannah Taylor could hardly contain her excitement in the moments after lifting the trophy for the first time in 12 years.

“We are all ecstatic,” she said.

“I still cannot believe we won or played the grand final.

“It was a different game to what you usually play because usually we come back late, but this time we started strong and held on.

“It was so hard not to get hyped up in a grand final and we kept our cool.”

Emotions were high around Blue Lake Sports Park with the sport still coming to terms with the passing of stalwart Tammy Jones.

Her daughters all played big roles on either side, led by best on ground Dana Jones and Taylor said the win was dedicated to her.

“We lost Tammy earlier this season to cancer and it was a big loss for everyone because she was a massive part of the club,” Taylor said.

“This premiership is for her and she was definitely with us today.”