South Indians swing into gear early in shortened round

A Ben Nash Tbj 2175  TBW Newsgroup
BIG WIN: Ben Nash helped South Indians to record an eight-run victory over Tigers in Mount Gambier Division 1 baseball at Blue Lake Sports Park on Friday night. Picture: TREVOR JACKSON

A Ben Nash Tbj 2175 TBW Newsgroup
BIG WIN: Ben Nash helped South Indians to record an eight-run victory over Tigers in Mount Gambier Division 1 baseball at Blue Lake Sports Park on Friday night. Picture: TREVOR JACKSON

SOUTH Indians returned to the winner’s circle with a vengeance after a big win over Tigers in Division 1 baseball on Friday night.

The victors controlled proceedings from outset when they hit the scoreboard first during the second inning when Dean Hamilton singled to left-field and Alex Lewis drew a walk.

Hamilton was batted in by Ben Nash and Lewis strolled home on a wild throw from first base to open an early lead.

South’s advantage grew in the fourth dig when Bruce Morale hit safely and crossed the plate on Hamilton’s second safe-hit.

Tigers clawed back some momentum in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to a Brayden Morton safe-hit to left-field.

He scored on a fielder’s choice, but the Indians added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Jesse Balshaw’s fly ball to left-field was put down and Morale picked up his second safe-hit.

The pair both scored on Alex Lewis’ hit to third base after the fielder threw the ball wildly across the diamond.

The pressure continued to mount on Tigers after South crossed home base three more times at the top of the sixth.

Nash picked a walk and Ryan Placucci’s hit to third base resulted in another wild throw, as the duo scored on left-field hits by Morale and Damien O’Dine respectively.

Another fielding error saw O’Dine give the Indians an seven-run lead.

The advantage shrunk slightly after Tigers pulled two runs back in the seventh dig thanks to Garth Ransom and Kane Harrison.

Lead-off batsman Ransom converted after Tyrone May’s hit into a fielder’s choice play by short stop, while Harrison was batted in by Joe Sims’ safe-hit to centre-field.

But South finished off the game in style with the final three runs of the game.

Hamilton, Morale and Placucci scored during the last two innings to ensure a convincing eight-run victory over an error-ridden Tigers.

The Indians had 12 safe-hits and made just two errors, while Tigers hit safely five times and produced 10 mistakes.

Saturday night’s match Federal and Central was postponed due to player unavailability and is rescheduled to Saturday, February 22 when they will play a double header.

However, a rare feat occurred in a Division 2 clash between Central and Federal on Saturday.

Central batter Leigh Kent hit a grand slam home run in his first appearance with bat in hand in the contest.

Kent’s hit saw Central score four runs with the bases were loaded and it is a long time since this has happened in the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League.