Indians showcase talent

LONG DAY: Bruce Morale was impressive on the mound for South Indians, pitching the full nine innings for five strike outs and only one walk in the Division 1 baseball game against Federal on Saturday. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

South Indians 8 d Federal 4

SOUTH Indians added to their solid start to the Mount Gambier and District Division 1 baseball season with an 8-4 victory over Federal on Saturday.

Federal opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when lead-off batter Kane McMillan singled to rightfield.

Alex Reppin found himself at first after an error by the baseman Dean Hamilton, then McMillan scored on Wade Chant’s double to left-field.

Reppin scored on Sam Shepherd’s single to first base before the inning closed.

South replied in the second with two runs of their own.

Alex Lewis hit safely to right-field and Travis Lockwood picked a walk.

Lewis scored on a passed ball, followed quickly by Lockwood, who crossed the plate on a pitchers baulk.

The Demons added one more in the second.

Matt DeNys stepped up to the plate and hit a two bagger into left-field for Federal, then scored on an error at third base after a solid hit by Reppin.

However, South blew the game wide open in the top of the fifth when they scored four more runs.

Steve Isaccson doubled into left-field and Bruce Morale picked a base on ball.

Isaccson scored on a wild pitch, while Morale crossed the plate on Hamilton’s single to left-field.

Alex Lewis then singled, also to left-field and both he and Hamilton scored on Ryan Placucci’s single to shortstop.

In the fifth inning Federal added to their score when Clay Carpenter walked and scored on Sam Shepherd’s sacrifice fly to Centrefield.

The Indians finished off the game in the ninth by adding two more runs.

Bruce Morale walked and scored on Alex Lewis’ triple to right-field, then scored on Lockwood’s hit to second base, giving South the win by four runs.

For the victors, South picked up eleven safe hits and four base on ball.

Morale pitched the full nine digs for five strike outs and only one walk.

They made just three fielding errors.

Federal had nine safe hits and only the single base on ball.

The Demons used two pitchers – Chant and Reppin – for eight strike outs and four walks.

Tigers 11 d Central

TIGERS returned to the winner’s circle with a resounding 11-1 defeat of Central in the Division 1 Mount Gambier and District baseball game on Saturday.

Tigers opened the scoring in the first, applying scoreboard pressure on Central from the start.

Brayden Morton singled and scored on Alex Harkness’ hit back to the pitcher, then with two out, Brodie Foster singled and scored on brother Jesse’s hit to centre-field.

Dyllan Lane singled, also to centre-field, Matt Thompson hit into an error at third base which scored Jesse Foster and Mitch Crosbie hit into another error at third base to score Thompson.

The Magpies scored their only run for the game in the first when lead-off batter Kyall McClean singled to right-field and scored on Koby Chant’s hit into an error.

Tigers added more runs in the second when Harkness was hit by the pitcher, Tyler Horrigan hit safely and Jesse Foster picked a walk.

Harkness scored on Lane’s sacrifice fly to centre-field and Horrigan crossed the plate on Matt Thompson’s hit into another error at third base.

Mitch Crosbie was thrown a base on ball and both he and Thompson scored on Brayden Morton’s safe hit to second base before the inning finished.

The mercy rule came into play in the top of the seventh when Harkness doubled to left-field and scored on Brodie Foster’s sacrifice fly to centre-field, giving Tigers a comfortable victory.

Tigers hit safely nine times, picked up seven strike outs, four base on ball and only made a single error.

Central had five safe hits, picked up four strike outs, five walks and made an horrendous seven errors.