FEDERAL v SOUTH
FEDERAL cemented its place in the top three of the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 competition with a round 14 win over South Indians.
The Saturday evening clash was a tight tussle between the second and third placed teams, but it was the Demons who held out for a close 6-5 run victory.
South scored first in the top of the fourth when Damien O’Dine hit to centre-field and was batted in by Dean Hamilton’s sacrifice fly to right-field.
In the top of the sixth South’s Hayden Battye beat out the throw from shortstop to gain first base and scored on Bruce Morale’s double to left-field to push the Indians’ lead out to two runs.
However, Federal tied the score in the bottom of that inning when – with two out – Alex Reppin was hit by a pitched ball and scored on Wade Chant’s double to centre-field.
Chant crossed home when Tom Rundle’s hit to shortstop resulted in a throw across the diamond for the third out, but was fumbled.
The Indians kept the pressure on a reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs.
Tarkyn Morale found himself safely at first, while Hayden Timms picked a walk and Ryan Placucci’s hit to left-field was put down.
Tarkyn Morale scored on a wild pitch, Timms was batted in by Battye and Placucci scored South’s final run for the match on Bruce Morale’s second two-bagger and the Indians led 5-2.
The Demons hit back in the eighth when Reppin charged around to third after the baseman.
He added one more to Federal’s score when he was batted in by Chant, who hit his second double for the night.
Chant then crossed to make it a one-run game.
Federal picked up the win in the ninth inning.
Lead-off batter Alex Pearson was struck out, but advanced to first when the catcher made a bad defensive error and Darcy Pink singled to right-field.
Pearson scored on a wild pitch, while Pink advanced on the same pitch.
Pink then stole home to record the winning run on Sam Shepherd’s hit into an out by third base’s throw across the diamond in a thrilling finish.
Federal had eight safe hits, two hit batters, three runs batted in, three strike-outs, left six runners on base and made just one error, while South had nine safe hits, five walks, four RBI, eight K’s, left nine runners on base and made four errors.
CENTRAL v TIGERS
CENTRAL returned to the winner’s list with a round 14 victory over Tigers in Friday night’s Division 1 baseball fixture.
The Magpies took flight in the bottom of the second inning, before they spread their wings and soared to a 10-4 run triumph.
Central’s Brock Keding was first to post a run, as he found himself at third base after his hit to that base player resulted in a wild throw.
He was batted in by Brad Lynagh whose Texas-leaguer landed safely in left-field.
Mark Kilpatrick followed and also hit safely to the same side of the diamond, while Lynagh crossed the plate on Ethan Chuck’s safe hit to third base.
Kyall McClean’s flyball to centre-field was grassed allowing both Kilpatrick and Chuck to cross the home plate and hand Central a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning Tigers replied with scores of its own.
Brayden Morton was hit by a pitched ball and Jesse Foster drew a base on ball, with both runners scored on Tyler Horrigan’s hit to deep left-field.
Tigers reeled in the margin further in the top of the fifth, when Foster again picked a walk and Horrigan gained first on a fielder’s choice.
Foster scored on a wild pitch and Horrigan touched home on Jacob English’s safe hit to left-field, before Central’s pitcher Chuck closed out the inning with the score at four-all.
With the pressure on, Central stepped up a gear and reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Dylan Chuck’s two-bagger put him in a good position and he scored on Keding’s hit to third base, which drew a wild throw.
The Magpies added another run in the sixth inning when Josh Chuck hit safely to right-field and cross home on Dylan Chuck’s base on ball.
With Tigers still in the fight, Central put the game to bed in the bottom of the seventh dig.
Lynagh hit into an error at third base, while both Mark Kilpatrick and Ethan Chuck walked.
All three scored thanks to McClean’s mighty hit to left-field.
McClean then crossed the plate on Nathan Meinck’s safe hit to right-field, which gave the Magpies the win, 10 runs to four.
Central had seven safe-hits for the match, along with nine walks, seven runs batted in, five strike-outs, 11 runners left on base and two errors made.
For Tigers it only managed three safe hits, while also had nine walks, one hit batter, three RBI, 10 runners left on base and six errors.
