TIGERS 5 d FEDERAL 4
TIGERS consolidated its position at the top of the Division 1 Mount Gambier and District baseball ladder with a one-run win over Federal in Saturday’s early game.
The game was not won until an extra 10th inning was played, with the Demons first to hit the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth.
Josh Wilsmore singled to left-field and scored on a wild throw from the Tigers shortstop.
Tigers evened the score in the top of the sixth inning, when Tyler Horrigan found himself at first base after an error from the Federal shortstop.
He then crossed home on Jesse Foster’s two-base hit to left-field.
In the even dig Federal added two more runs to its score to take the lead.
Sam Shepherd singled again to left-field and scored on Clay Carpenter’s deep hit to centre-field.
Carpenter subsequently crossed the plate on Gavin Smith’s sacrifice fly to right-field.
The game remained in the balance when Tigers hauled one back in the top of the eighth after Brodie Foster hit safely to left-field and scored on a catcher’s passed ball.
It was then in the ninth inning the game was tied once more, when Tigers’ Dyllan Lane drew a walk and scored on Brayden Morton’s single to centre-field.
Federal had no reply in the bottom of the ninth, which sent the game to an extra inning.
In the top of the 10th Brodie Foster singled to right-field and scored on a wild throw from the pitcher to give Tigers the lead.
The margin was extended when Jesse Foster – whose hit caused the wild throw – scored on Alex Harkness’ double to left-field, to hand Tigers a two-run break.
Federal answered through Shepherd, who hit safely to right-field and scored on Travis Younghusband’s hit down the line, but it was not enough and Tigers claimed a one-run victory.
Tigers managed eight safe hits, three base on ball, 10 strikeouts and made four errors, while the Demons had 10 safe hits, four base on ball, five strikeouts and two errors.
Interestingly, all but one of the runs scored in the game were unearned.
SOUTH 15 d CENTRAL 2
SOUTH Indians dined out at Central’s expense in Saturday’s late game, which saw a seven inning mercy win and a jump back to second place on the ladder for the Indians.
With the final score 15-2, South started strongly from the first inning, as lead-off batter Ryan Placucci singled and scored on clean-up batter Dean Hamilton’s safe hit to centre-field.
Hamilton then crossed home plate on Ben Nash’s single, also to centre-field to establish an early lead.
In the top of the third inning, South’s Damien O’Dine singled to the infield, while Hamilton doubled and Travis Lockwood singled to score O’Dine.
Hamilton touched home plate on Steve Isaccson’s single to right-field and Lockwood scored on Nash’s second safe hit to give the Indians a 5-0 lead.
In the fifth, Steve Isaccson picked a base on ball and Nash found himself at first on an error by the baseman.
Isaccson crossed on a fielder’s choice and Nash scored on a wild throw produced from a hit by Dean Lane.
That saw the margin at seven runs, with Central yet to hit the scoreboard.
In the top of the sixth Bruce Morale singled to left-field and O’Dine walked, with both runners adding to the scoreline when a throw from the Central second baseman went awry.
The Magpies scored their first run for the match in the even sixth dig, when pitcher Dylan Chuck singled to right-field and scored on Brad Lynagh’s double to centre-field.
However, there was no recovery for Central and the wheels really fell off in the field in the top of the seventh.
Dean Lane singled and Ryan Placucci got on board from a fielder’s choice, before the former scored on Morale’s hit to third, which produced a wild throw.
O’Dine singled to the infield and Hamilton picked up his fourth safe hit for the game, which scored Placucci.
Morale crossed on a wild pitch and O’Dine touched on a wild throw from the Central second baseman, after a hit from Travis Lockwood.
Nash’s hit to right-field resulted in the fielder muffing the chance and allowed both Hamilton and Lockwood to cross the home plate.
Chasing a deficit of 14 runs, Central’s Nathan Meinck picked a walk, as did the next two batters to load the bases.
However, Meinck was the only one to score when he crossed the plate on Dylan Chuck’s hit into a fielder’s choice.
In the end the Indians won by a comfortable 13 runs, picking up 16 safe hits, two walks, four strikeouts and a solitary error on their way to victory.
Central on the other hand had only six safe hits, five base on ball, four strikeouts and eight unforgiving errors.
