Concordes 19 d Wanderers 7
CONCORDES remain in finals contention after taking a 12-run victory over Wanderers in the Mount Gambier Softball Association elimination final at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday.
Hot and testing conditions made for a tough hit out.
A good start was crucial and it was the eventual winners who came out better.
Concordes batted through their line-up in the first innings and piled on an impressive five runs.
Codie Jackway was most impressive and almost cleared the fence on the full with a big hit.
Wanderers also looked well prepared and scored on two occasions in the first innings.
However, from there, it was one-way traffic.
Concordes piled six runs in the second innings with safe hits to Dana and Billie Jones.
A pitching change from Wanderers did little to stop Concordes as they picked out a number of walks to combine with their hits to score a further five runs in the third and three in the fourth.
However, to Wanderers credit, they did step up in the fourth.
Fiona Finch, Jo Hart and Cathy Whiting all crossed the plate to add to their score, but despite the trio’s efforts, the game was never in doubt and Concordes took the win 19-7.
Best for the victors was Billie Jones with four-from- four hits, while Dana Jones managed three-from-four.
Dana also pitched well in the tough conditions and held Wanderers to just five safe hits for the game.
Linda Dodds also stood out with the bat, with a three-bagger and a safe hit.
For Wanderers Hart never gave up and scored two safe hits, as did Fiona Finch.
Concordes will now tackle Warriors in the preliminary final this weekend.
Demons 10 d Warriors 2
REIGNING Mount Gambier Softball Association premiers Warriors were no match for a determined Demons outfit in the semi-final at Blue Lake Sports Park.
The eight-run victory handed the Demons a direct path into the grand final, while Warriors will be forced to battle with Concordes for a position in the major game this weekend.
Demons came out of the blocks firing, scoring two runs in the first innings after outfield hits to Mackenzie Millard, Cody Manning and Anna Livingston.
Warriors came back immediately with a run of their own with Nicole Vause crossing the plate.
The second innings saw no runs added as the pitching duel between Demons’ Livingston and Warriors’ Leyna Bruggemann came alive.
In the third innings Warriors scored an equaliser and the scores stayed locked at 2-2 until the fifth innings.
It was then, the Demons finally broke the shackles.
Consecutive safe hits by Manning, Livingston and Monica Payne saw three players cross the plate, which handed the Demons a handy lead, heading into the final two innings’.
Demons were able to extend on the lead in the seventh innings with safe hits again to Manning and Livingston, as well and Karen Cawthorne and Taylor Wilson-Smith, which saw an impressive five runs added to the team’s total.
The big effort saw Demons sit on 10 runs to Warriors two, which effectively put the game out of reach for the reigning champions.
Stand out players were Livington – who pitched with control and accuracy throughout the game – as well as helping herself to three-from-three safe hits.
Captain Manning was also outstanding with the bat, with four hits, from as many attempts.
For Warriors Bruggeman toiled hard with ball and bat, scoring three-from-three safe hits, matched by Nic Vause who also finished with three.
Demons will now enjoy a week’s rest before the grand final as they await a winner out of Concordes and Warriors.
