IT took just two games for Tigers to claim the Mount Gambier baseball Division 1 grand final against South Indians, with the third game of the series not required to decide the outcome.
Tigers were dominant in game one, claiming an 8-0 win and setting the scene for a tough game two for South.
But to their credit the Indians fought back on Saturday afternoon, pushing Tigers to the limit, with the final 9-6 scoreline making for an entertaining contest.
In Friday night’s opening game, the first of a best of three series, Tigers were the first to score when in the bottom of the second, lead-off batter Brodie Foster tripled to centre field and scored on brother Jesse’s single.
They added two more in the third off Brayden Morton and Tyler Horrigan to take a strong lead.
Disaster then struck for the Indians, when a play at second base saw coach Bruce Morale sustain a knee injury and after an attempt at bat in the next innings, he withdrew for the remainder of the series.
Dean Hamilton replaced Ryan Placucci on the mound for the Indians, but the runs continued to flow for the Tigers.
Three more were added in the seventh and it was all but over for the Indians, with the final scoreline well-deserved by the eventual prmiers.
Game two saw Tigers draw first blood in the bottom of the second, where Dyllan Lane singled, Jesse Foster doubled and Karl Ransom singled, with all three eventually crossing the home plate.
They added two more in the third after Tyler Horrigan doubled and Brodie Foster singled, with Horrigan scoring on a wild throw from Indians short stop Damien O’Dine and Foster on a wild pitch from Hamilton.
Tigers led five nil at the end of the third, but South responded in the top of the fourth, scoring three.
Hamilton singled, as did Ben Morale, with Hamilton scoring on Alex Lewis’s single, while Morale scored on Tom Castleman’s right field single.
Lewis scored the third of the innings and South added one more in the fifth when Damien O’Dine singled and scored on Hamilton’s double.
Another was added in the sixth when Ben Nash found himself at first base after an error by relief pitcher Karl Ransom and he scored on Steve Issacson’s double to right field, leaving the score tied at five all.
Tigers increased their score in the bottom of the seventh when Brodie Foster hit safely for the second time in the game.
With Lane on first, Jesse Foster successfully bunted to load the bases and when Hamilton baulked his pitch, Brodie Foster crossed the plate freely.
Lane and Jesse Foster scored and Tigers were again in a strong position.
In the eighth, Brayden Morton was hit by a pitched ball and scored on Tyler Horrigan’s single to right field, but South rallied in the top of the ninth when Hamilton picked up his fifth hit from five at bats, then scored on Travis Lockwood’s single before the innings was closed out, leaving Tigers victorious by three runs.
Results
Game 1: Tigers 8 d South Indians 0. Safe hits: Tigers – B. Foster 3, B. Morton, J. Foster, K. Ransom, J. Sims 1; South Indians – T. Lockwood 1.
Game 2: Tigers 9 d South Indians 6. Safe hits: Tigers – T. Horrigan 3, B. Foster, J. Foster, A. Harkness 2, D. Lane, K. Ransom 1; South Indians – D. Hamilton 5, T. Lockwood 3, S. Issacson 2, D. O’Dine, B. Morale, A. Lewis, T. Castleman, R. Placucci.
