TIGERS 4 d CENTRAL 2
TIGERS hit their way to their second win of the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 season on Saturday afternoon in a long, dramatic contest.
Up against Central in an early 1pm fixture, it took 12 innings for the match to be won, with a close 4-3 result.
Central was away to a flyer in the top of the first inning, batting in three runs to start the match.
Lead-off batter Alex Ridding hit into an error at short-stop and scored the first run on a passed ball.
Nathan Meinck then singled to centre-field and Dylan Chuck bunted safely back to the pitcher.
They both crossed home on Brad Lynagh’s single to centre-field before Tigers closed out the inning.
From there the runs dried up for both teams and it was not until the bottom of the sixth where Tigers fought back to close down the three-run lead.
Braydon Morton hit safely to left-field, advanced on Ben Marcus’ hit and run, with a wild throw from first base allowing Morton to score.
In the bottom of the eighth Tigers’ Jacob English singled to left-field, as did Joe Sims.
English crossed home on Morton’s hit to centre-field and Sims was batted in by Tyler Horrigan’s safe-hit to tie the game up at three-all.
With plenty of time left another three inning were played and it was Tigers who found the break.
Garth Ransom found himself on board when his hit resulted in a wild throw from short-stop and he finally scored on another wild throw from a bunt by Sims.
That broke the deadlock and handed Tigers a much-needed victory.
Tigers pitcher Ransom and Central’s Dylan Chuck both threw the full compliment of inning in an outstanding effort.
At the end of the match Tigers had eight safe hits, two walks, two RBI and nine strike outs.
They made one error and left six runners on base.
Central had 10 safe hits, one walk, two RBI, four strike outs and four errors, with seven runners left on base.
FEDERAL 6 d SOUTH 5
THE second Division 1 game of Mount Gambier and District baseball on Saturday was a surprise result when Federal upset ladder leader South Indians by one run.
A solid start from Federal handed it the early advantage over the more fancied Indians.
Lead-off batter Nathan Taylor picked a walk and Kane McMillan hit a two-bagger to right-field.
Both runners were batted in by Wade Chant’s single to centre-field.
Tom Rundle hit safely to left-field, Chant was batted in by a sacrifice bunt from Clay Carpenter and Rundle crossed the plate on a wild pitch, before South could close out the inning.
That gave the Demons a four-run head start, as the Indians failed to answer until the third dig.
In the bottom of the third South’s Christian Greco hit to short-stop, which resulted in a wild throw.
He was then batted in by Bruce Morale to put South on the scoreboard.
Federal’s lead was stolen in the bottom of the fifth, when the Indians added four runs to their total.
Ryan Placucci picked a base on ball, as did Morale.
Placucci scored when Damien O’Dine’s hit to short-stop resulted in a wild throw, while Morale crossed home-plate on a wild pitch and O’Dine added to the score when he stole home.
The final run was added when Tarkyn Morale drew a walk and scored on another wild pitch.
With the game in the balance, Federal tied it up in the top of the eighth when Gavin Smith’s hit to third-base drew a wild throw, before he eventually scored on another wild throw from the Indians’ infield.
The Demons sealed the win in the ninth inning when Kane McMillan picked a walk and crossed the plate on the fourth wild throw of the game, leaving the score at 6-5 in Federal’s favour.
The victors managed eight safe hits for the match – six more than South – along with five base on ball, three RBI, seven strike outs, two errors and nine runners left on base.
South had two safe hits, 13 base on ball, one RBI, four strike outs, six errors and eight runners on base.
