Warriors 14 def. Wanderers 10
Warriors recognised the weekend’s Mount Gambier Softball League match against the quiet achievers in Wanderers as a danger game, with the two versus three clash.
Wanderers held firm in the field in the first dig with Leanne Little leading the way throwing out Sarah Polderman at the plate for a force out after she got on via a speedy infield single.
Warriors’ “Smiling Assassin” Melissa Chuck still had the energy in the tank after organising another amazingly successful Fully Loaded exhibition game the night prior, supporting the Sunset Kitchen, to carefully place a bunt just far enough away from Wanderers pitching gun Rej Smith.
Edie Jones then shut down the Warriors threat with a handy catch at centre.
Wanderers’ bats were kyboshed by pitcher, a fractionally less grumpy Leyna Bruggemann, instantly relieved when she uncharacteristically threw straight to first then caught a fly ball, momentarily quietening the heckling from Jarvo Queale on the bench.
Warriors’ batting juggernaut started warming up in the second with a sizzling double to Polderman, scored on a rightside RBI single to one of the greatest team players to have ever stepped onto a diamond in Kelly Doyle.
Chuck drilled a double scoring Doyle, Kateesha Yates patiently picked a walk, Skylea McLean singled then Haley Lindner hit a line drive to Lily Clifford-Finch at short for the last out and four Warriors runs on the board.
Wanderers’ Jess Ghezzi and Jones showed their team how to do it, expertly dispatching Bruggemann for singles each, Fiona Finch walked before “Saintly” Jasmine Disselbach quelled her usual nerves, calmly making an important out at second to put Warriors back on offence.
Warriors’ synergy was in full activation as they put 10 on the board in the third, showing an outstanding purple patch of team hitting.
Caroline Bradshaw had two safe hits in the inning paired with two RBIs, Yates cracked another up the middle, Lindner chiming in with the same.
She had to get her skates on as Bruggemann had her peepers on a Smith strike, sending it to centre right for a triple.
Wanderers stayed patient in the batters’ box as the ever whimsical Jarvo rolled her arm over when she was not giving the side eye to Polderman and Bruggemann cheering her on from the bench.
Doyle was everywhere trying to urge Jarvo to the strike zone from behind the plate and Little got a gold nugget, hitting it to Dodsy Dodds at left for a single for Wanderers’ third and last team hit for the day.
Wanderers showed grit and got 10 on the board forcing Warriors to bat again.
Yates legged out a double before getting caught stealing by a great throw from Abbie Lovekin to Little at third, Warriors denied further runs by Smith and the score 14-10, Wanderers in the hot seat for the last batting inning of the game.
Jarvo tossed the ball back to Bruggemann and it was three up three down, Chuck making sure of the last out off the consistent bat of Finch, and Warriors consolidating second position on a tight premiership ladder. United 5 def. Demons 4
The first innings saw Demons at the plate first, Allana Feast for United pitching well and backed up by her team were able to end the first bat pretty quickly with no runs scored.
Demons’ pitcher Cody Manning also pitching well was able to hold United to no runs.
The second at bat for Demons started off with a beautiful safe hit to left field by Billie Jones.
United quick on their feet were able to get the next two outs with both catches going to Rosie Clarke at 2nd base.
A safe hit from Demons Meg Merrett advanced Jones to home plate scoring one run.
Kezia Feast up to bat hit a blinder to leftfield but Dana Jones fast on her feet was able to catch it quickly ending the innings 1-0.
United then fought back hard with the bat, Feast getting herself on base with a safe hit to right field .
Julie Beck earnt herself a walk advancing Feast and getting herself on base.
Dianne Wilson up to bat for United hit the ball and with an error she got herself on base, advancing Beck and scoring Feast.
A wild pitch then saw Beck run home scoring another run for United.
Jones and Harmony Kennett getting on base allowed Sarah Thomson to have a safe hit to centrefield scoring Jones.
Demons fought back hard with three quick outs to end the innings.
Demons young gun Sofie Morale came up to the plate strong getting herself a safe hit to centrefield but tight fielding and great catching from Codie Jackway ending the innings.
United came back up to bat and Beck earned herself another walk getting herself on base, a wild pitch advanced her to second and a safe hit to Clarke moved Beck to 3rd.
A passed ball allowed her to steal home again to score another run to United’s total.
Quick recovery and amazing fielding from first year player Simone Little at 3rd for Demons ending United’s innings.
Demons batted hard in the last innings with Morale again picking the right pitches to get a walk and start Demons’ run.
A well placed bunt by Em Hart got herself on and advanced Morale, while a safe hit from Sarah Nieuwenhuizen scored both Morale and Hart.
Manning hit a blinder to centrefield but Wilson for United was cool, calm and collected and was able to catch the ball leaving Nieuwenhuizen on second.
Jones back up to bat saw her get a second safe hit to centrefield which scored Nieu.
United’s fielding from Rebecca White at 3rd got the last two outs ending the innings.
In a fun filled and tight game, United was able to come away with the win 5-4 and end the undefeated run for Demons.
