WARRIORS BLUE 13 d WARRIORS WHITE 8
WARRIORS Blue comfortably defeated intra-club rivals Warriors White in Saturday’s softball preliminary final at Blue Lake Sports Park to set up a date with Demons in the grand final this weekend.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, Warriors Blue made short work of its opposition with a three-up and three-down at the top of the first, before it was the batters’ turn to inflict more pain.
A sacrifice fly from Nicole Vause and a double from Angela Queale , led the Blue team to score a three-run lead.
Warriors White managed to chip away one-run from the margin in the second, but in response Vause turned it on again with a run batted in.
Another from Leyna Bruggemann saw the Blue team score a further three runs to appear in a dominant position.
However, the White outfit fought hard thanks to good pitching from Erin Chaplin, fielding from Imogen Walker and batting from Taylor Pearson, Walker and Clare Chaplin, which reduced the deficit to just two runs.
In response, Blue rose again to compile three runs in the fourth inning, which pushed its lead back out to five runs.
White hit back with four runs in the fifth to close within a single run of Blue and set the contest up for a grandstand finish.
However, Warriors Blue once again flexed its muscles to score four runs thanks to safe hits from Bruggemann and Queale.
Warriors White could not find a way back into contention and went on to lose 13-8, in what was an entertaining preliminary final for the spectators.
Warriors Blue’s five-run win means it will now meet Demons in Saturday’s grand final.
The decider appears to be an even clash, but Warriors will need to tighten up in the field, after it made five fielding errors in the most recent clash between the sides.
This issue will be slightly resolved thanks to the inclusion of Jenna Burston back into the infield.
Demons will be strengthened by the return of Montana and Mackenzie Millard, which sets up a difficult first pitch choice for coach Bruce Morale, after the recent success of incumbent Grace Millard.
Despite Warriors holding the advantage over its opposition in recent years, Demons’ depth on the mound may prove to be a deciding factor.
Commencing at 1pm on Saturday, an intense contest is anticipated between Demons and Warriors Blue in the softball premiership decider for the 2018/19 season.
Warriors Blue 13 d Warriors White 8: Safe hits – Warriors Blue: A. Queale 3, L. Mullen, E. McDonald, L. Bruggemann 2, J. Koop, N. Vause 1; Warriors White: C. Chaplin 3, T. Wilsmore 2, T. Pearson, D. Wombwell, E. Hann, K. Anderson, I. Walker 1.
