Softballers approach festive break

SHORTENED GAME: Demons pitcher Anna Livingston was strong on the mound in Saturday’s 3pm Mount Gambier Softball game against Concordes White, which was called short due to the afternoon storm. Picture: THOMAS MILES

WARRIORS WHITE 8 d WANDERERS 5

WARRIORS White notched up another win in the Mount Gambier Softball 2018-19 season, as it stole the victory in the last innings against Wanderers on Saturday.

Wanderers led for the majority of the match, but the final push saw an 8-5 win to Warriors.

Imogen Walker pitched well to hold Wanderers at bay, giving up only four safe hits and striking out nine for the match.

Warriors’ Jenna Burston dominated the left side of the diamond with two hits, while another two came from consistent first-baser Taylor Pearson.

Justine Koop chipped in with two hits, which including scoring the run to take the lead, as well as snagging some crucial fly balls at left field.

Also for Warriors, Jessica Hillman managed a safe hit to right field, while Walker also had a single.

For Wanderers, Fiona Finch continued her sound season, earning herself a safe hit, along with Jo and Em Hart and Trish Seagar.

However, it was not enough to prevent Warriors from claiming the honours.

WARRIORS BLUE 10 d CONCORDES UNITED 2

IT was a comfortable win for Warriors Blue when it faced Concordes United at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday.

United struggled to break through the pitching of Leyna Bruggemann and Warriors Blue showed a vast improvement on recent games in the field.

United’s Dana Jones bounced back to the pitchers mound after being hit in the chest by a Bella Morale laser last week.

Raquel Sneath caught well in the heat of the early game for Warriors and also managed two hits before coming off the ground injured.

The ever-consistent Nicole Vause added another double to her hitting tally and Simone McDonald, Courtney Hansen and Leanne Mullan also had hits for Warriors.

In the end Warriors ran out with a convincing 10-2 win.

DEMONS 2 d CONCORDES WHITE 1 (WASHED OUT)

CONCORDES and Demons were off to a good start in the 3pm game on Saturday, in a race against time to complete the match before the weather closed in.

However, it was not to be and the score of 2-1 in Demons favour stood when the game was abandoned due to lightning.

In the first innings Concordes scored immediately, thanks to a two-bagger from Jo Hopgood followed by solid team batting to advance her home.

But Demons struck back almost straight away, with safe hits to Mackenzie Millard and Anna Livingston brought home by a three-bagger from Cody Manning.

Concordes made it through the innings without any further damage and from here the score remained 2-1 until the weather finally prevailed and the game was called short.

It was a closely contested affair and Concordes will take encouragement from holding the Demons heavy-hitters to only six hits from four innings.

Sam Brown continued her red-hot form on the mound for Concordes and Livingston did a good job on the mound for Demons.

Best for Demons was Millard with three safe hits and a solid game catching in difficult weather conditions.

The league now takes its Christmas and new year break, but the Mount Gambier representative team will continue to train hard in preparation for the Australia day weekend State Country Championships.

Mount Gambier won the A Grade trophy last year and Leyna Bruggemann will hope to defend the title with her team come the end of January.