Bandits and Warriors faced off in the major semi final with both teams setting their alarm clocks for the early Saturday time slot.

The crowd grew as the Bandits hit first and number one Warriors ticket holder Jenny Chuck gave the coach pregame instruction of three up three down and her team so delivered.

“The Gun” AKA “Denis Denuto” Sarah Polderman had lead off Mackenzie Millard out on a 6-3, Di Horbury was fooled by a Leyna Bruggemann change up and Debra Hicks was caught by Linda Dodds at left.

Warriors’ lead off Justine Koop hit one to Bandits pitcher Chrystal Lock who calmly made the play over to Maddie Redman at first, Denis flew out to Hicks at third and then Jarvo Queale whacked the first pitch she faced for a single to Chantel Macdonald at centre.

“The Smiling Assassin” Melissa Chuck was hitting in the four spot and put one out to Melissa McCracken who ended up with her glove off but regained her composure to hit her cut with Jarvo being waved round from third, Redman made a great throw to have her out sliding into the plate.

Bandits were again held to zero in the second with dangerous hitter Emilee Mitchell hitting a ground ball to Denis, before Redman smoked one out to Kelly Doyle at right.

Macdonald was tricked by a change up for her third strike and then Warriors favourite Bandit Caroline Bradshaw hit a ground ball to Jarvo who thankfully made it on the full to Chuck.

Warriors had their tails up with Bruggemann leading off with a walk, Taylor Pearson put down a great sacrifice bunt, Doyle walked and Haley Lindner had herself an infield single RBI.

Dodsy continued her hitting streak with a lovely single to Bradshaw at left that scored Doyle.

Justine Koop put down the bunt and reached first safely, Denis safe on an infield RBI single to Horbury.

It was Horbury who was the day’s ball magnet, in the action the next few plays, making a put out at second off of Jarvo’s bat then taking a fly ball for the third out to put her side back in with the score 0-4.

Bandits made Warriors pay for the lead off error when McCracken creamed one over Doyle’s head and with the relay becoming a bit of a shambles, Lock scored and McCracken ended up at third.

She was then scored by a crisp Millard single to Dodsy at left.

Horbury ended up wearing one much to Bruggemann’s second apology for the day (and disgust as she had two strikes and no balls on her), Hicks decided not to waste time getting after the first pitch finding Dodsy’s glove and then Mitchell had Bruggemann psyched out, walking after seven pitches.

Redman flew out to Denis then Macdonald hit one to her mate Bruggemann for the last out and the score was 4-2 Warriors way.

Warriors were held to zero, Horbury’s seam marks and bruise not fazing her as she caught another fly, Lock worked hard for a KC before Doyle lined one to her favoured left side for a single.

Horbury must have been calling for it as she made the last out off Lindner’s bat.

Bandits’ lead off Bradshaw swung at the first pitch, looping it to Bruggemann for a catch, Lock zinged one to Doyle at right and was on her toes moving round to second on a wayward pitch.

McCracken flew out to Denis at short then Lock was the third out at third after a solid piece of the ball by Macca to Denis at short who flipped it over to Jarvo for the tag.

Warriors’ Dodsy led off with another great shot that landed in front of Macdonald at centre, but Warriors could not capitalise despite Koop’s sac bunt, Lock made a fantastic play to have her out then drew a ground ball to Horbury and a fly to Bradshaw to put her team back in to hit.

It was the change up again giving Horbury a headache with a K2-3, Hicks hitting the first pitch for the second time for a 6-3 from Denis to Chuck before Mitchell lobbed one over “Saintly” Jas Disselbach’s head at second for a single to Doyle.

Redman gave Denis the tunnel ball yippies but Denis regrouped to cover good ground to catch a fly from the bat of Macdonald.

Bruggemann was pleased with only throwing 19 pitches in the two preceding innings of the seven innings game with the temperature rising.

It was the bottom of the fifth dig where the flood gates opened for the blue and white team – Chuck and Bruggemann singled, Pearson on base care of a bunt fielder’s choice with all runners getting an extra base on a wild Hicks throw.

Doyle hit it firmly to Hicks who had Bruggemann in a trap play but the old timer sensed Macca was up the line so ran at her glove to draw the obstruction and the ball spilled out in the collision.

Lindner had another infield hit to Nat Whitehead that scored Pearson, before Maddy Bignell came in for Dodsy and went down swinging hard.

Koop doubled to centre and then decided that she saw “the steal signal” unbeknownst to the coach and was very lucky not to be put out by a pinpoint Macca throw.

She scored on an infield single by Denis who showed she was back to 100%, scooting round to second on the overthrow then stealing third on a ball in the dirt.

Chuck hit an RBI single, Bruggemann skied one just out of Bradshaw’s reach, Pearson walked for an RBI then Horbury played the lead runner at the plate for the second out.

Lindner hit it to Whitehead for the third time in the game and she made a heads up play to have Doyle out and the game called with the mercy rule invoked 12-2.

Bandits will face off against Concordes United in the prelim no doubt hungry to have another crack at Warriors now straight through to the grand final.