DIVISION 1
SOUTH INDIANS 9 d FEDERAL 5
SOUTH Indians has booked itself a place in the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 grand final, after a 9-5 win over Federal in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Federal was first to hit the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, when Nathan Taylor found himself safe at first and then scored on Alex Reppin’s single to left-field.
However, the Indians returned fire in the bottom of the fourth with four runs.
Dean Hamilton singled and scored on Travis Lockwood’s hit to a fielder’s choice, while Steve Isaccson’s hit created a wild throw from shortstop.
Lockwood came home on a passed ball, followed closely by Isaccson, who scored on Ben Nash’s safe hit to centre-field.
Nash crossed the home plate on Ryan Placucci’s single to left-field to wrap up the inning.
Federal tied the game up in the top of the fifth.
Reppin made it to first on a fielder’s choice out, while Wade Chant was hit by the pitcher and Sam Shepherd singled to centre-field, where an error was made to allow Reppin and Chant to score.
Shepherd touched home on Clay Carpenter’s single to centre-field.
The game remained close with no runs scored in the sixth dig, but South opened up the match in the bottom of the seventh.
Placucci’s hit to third caused an error by that player, while Bruce Morale and Damien O’Dine singled, which scored Placucci.
Morale added to the scoreline when he touched base on Lockwood’s single and O’Dine crossed on an error made from Isaccson’s hit to shortstop.
Now with the lead, the Indians cemented their hold on the game in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Jesse Balshaw went to second when the throw to first base went wild, while Placucci singled to centre-field.
Balshaw then scored on Morale’s hit which forced another wild throw and Placucci crossed on Lockwood’s second consecutive single.
Federal tried desperately to claw its way back into the game, but it was not to be.
Taylor singled and scored on Reppin’s double before the final inning was shut down, leaving South the worthy winner with a four-run victory.
South had 10 safe hits for the match, two base on ball, five strikeouts and made five errors, while Federal had nine safe hits, two hit batters, one strikeout and six errors.
Reppin pitched the whole game for Federal, while Hamilton pitched all but the final innings for the Indians.
South will now meet Tigers in this weekend’s Division 1 grand final series, played in a best-of-three games format.
DIVISION 2
MILLICENT 12 d TIGERS 6
A COMFORTABLE win for Millicent’s Division 2 baseball side over Tigers saw the Bandits earn a grand final berth.
Millicent claimed the preliminary final honours 12-6, to book a place against minor premier Central in this weekend’s decider.
The Bandits’ work in the batting box was too strong for a struggling pitching effort from Tigers on the day.
With five safe hits each, a staggering nine walks and two hit batters for Millicent was the difference in the end.
Darcy Pink pitched the whole game for the victors, while Tigers struggled through three pitching changes.
DIVISION 3
CENTRAL 8 d CENTRAL MAGPIES 6
THE Division 3 preliminary final saw sister teams Central and Central Magpies go head-to-head in a tight clash.
It was neck-and-neck for the entire game, but only one team could win and Central claimed the honours in the final inning, for an 8-6 result.
Central will now play Millicent in this week’s grand final.
UNDER 15
FEDERAL 10 d MILLICENT 9
FEDERAL fought its way into the Under 15 grand final by a solitary run when it clashed with Millicent in the preliminary.
The Bandits were undermanned and had just seven players, but made the Demons work hard for the win.
In the end Federal won 10-9, to earn a place against Central in the decider.
UNDER 13 GOLD
SOUTH INDIANS 8 d CENTRAL 4
SOUTH Indians batted its way to victory when it met Central in the Under 13 Gold preliminary final.
Out-hitting Central nine safe hits to three, the result was never in doubt and South claimed an 8-4 win.
The Indians are set to play Central Magpies in this week’s grand final.
