Demons fire in grand final showdown

BEST ON GROUND: Demons pitcher Grace Millard was awarded most valuable player in the Mount Gambier softball grand final on the weekend, after pitching the entire game for the victors and finding a safe hit to help the side to the premiership honours. Pictures: THOMAS MILES

IN what was a fitting finish the 2019 softball season, Demons claimed the premiership honours over Warriors Blue in a tight 5-4 result.

A close encounter was expected between the two tops sides and the crowd was treated to arguably the most exciting grand final finish in recent years.

Warriors Blue won the toss and elected to field, but Demons showed their intentions immediately, with key player Cody Manning hitting a RBI double to score Isabella Morale in the first inning.

Warriors responded with a double to league best and fairest winner Leyna Bruggemann to score Jenna Burston and a safe hit to Angela Queale to score Bruggemann in turn.

Both teams settled in the second inning, with no runs conceded, but the third was decisive for Demons, as safe hits from Morale and an RBI single by Montana Millard, coupled with a couple of Warriors fielding errors saw Demons plate three runs to take a 4-2 lead.

A safe hit to Simone McDonald and an RBI single to Kelly Doyle cut the lead to 4-3 at the end of four innings and all was set for a grandstand finish.

Bruggemann almost achieved the ultimate by clearing the fence, but the ball bounced just inside and then over, resulting in a double, which probably robbed her of at least a triple.

Warriors could not score her from there and the score remained 4-3.

In the fifth inning a Warriors fielding error put lead off batter Manning on base and she was batted around the bases until a wild throw over first base saw her advance home, which would prove costly.

The sixth inning was a scoreless affair and tensions rose, while in the top of the seventh Bruggeman pitched a scoreless dig to bring it all down to Warriors last at bat.

Bruggemann was the lead off and stepped up and creamed a home run to centre right field, reducing the deficit to one and sending the Warriors supporters into a frenzy.

Queale then popped a looping safe hit into shallow centre field and the game was on a knife edge for Demons.

To her credit, young pitcher Grace Millard took a deep breath and calmly retired the next batter, thanks to her team mate Manning’s excellent throw.

Justine Koop then forced an error out of the Demons field and all of a sudden there were runners on first and third with only one out.

On the next pitch Koop stole to second, hoping to induce a throw which would allow Queale to steal home, but a well-executed play between young catcher Mackenzie Millard and Manning saw the shortened throw cut off at short stop, with Manning firing a strike back to the catcher to tag Queale out at the plate and save the run.

Meanwhile Koop snuck to third, almost tagged for the last out, but slid in well to be safe.

With only one out required Millard walked Leanne Mullan and Kelly Doyle stepped up to the plate.

Doyle hit a line drive, but it went straight to short stop Manning, who made the final out to send the Demons girls into jubilant celebrations.

The difference in the end was the fielding errors of Warriors, which were almost all costly and the fact despite Warriors having eight safe hits to seven, Demons had a more even spread throughout their line up.

Warriors had six of the eight safe hits from Bruggemann (3) and Queale (3), which made scoring more difficult.

Grace Millard was again impressive for her side, pitching the full seven innings and despite immense pressure, giving up only four walks for the match.

Her calm and consistent pitching, coupled with a safe hit, earned her the grand final most valuable player.