SOUTH INDIANS v FEDERAL
SOUTH Indians overcame a fast start from Federal to secure the points for round 20 of the Mount Gambier and District Baseball League Division 1 competition on Saturday night.
Federal set up a run chase for the Indians in the top of the first inning when it scored five runs, but South turned the game around for an 8-6 victory.
Alex Reppin, Wade Chant, Sam Shepherd, Nathan Taylor and Tom Rundle all made it home for the Demons in the opening dig, before the Indians replied with a single run from Damien O’Dine.
South’s fight back continued in the bottom of the second inning when – with two out – Ben Nash singled to centre-field, Tarkyn Morale hit safely and Ryan Placucci loaded the bases with his safe hit to left-field.
All three were batted in by O’Dine’s booming two-base hit to left-field which tied the score at five apiece.
The Demons went ahead in the top of the fourth when Kane McMillan drew a walk and scored on Shepherd’s hit into an error at third base.
However, the lead was short lived as South levelled the game in the bottom of the inning.
O’Dine saw four balls cross the plate and was batted in by Jesse Balshaw when his hit to left-field landed safe.
The Indians then scored the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth dig.
O’Dine was in on the action again, while Bruce Morale was hit by a pitched ball.
Dean Hamilton singled to score O’Dine and Travis Lockwood’s safe hit to centre-field saw Morale cross the plate to give South the win.
South had 13 safe hits, along with seven walks, one hit batter, eight runs batted in, three strikeouts, seven runners left on base and three errors.
Federal had six safe hits, four walks, one hit batter, five RBI and four K’s, while leaving seven runners on base and making one error.
TIGERS v CENTRAL
BOTTOM-placed Tigers claimed a close win over ladder leader Central in round 20 of Mount Gambier and District Division 1 baseball on Friday night.
It was a low-scoring affair and at the end of play Tigers secured the bragging rights three runs to two.
Disaster struck for Central in the pre-game warm-up when starting pitcher Dylan Chuck was hit in the face with a ball which split his nose open.
Young Alex Ridding was then assigned the task while Chuck moved to a customary role at shortstop.
It was not until the bottom of the fifth inning Chuck returned to the mound, but Tigers failed to use the advantage and remained scoreless at that stage, despite leaving six runners on base in the first four digs.
It was in the fifth the runs started to come, as Jesse Foster got on board after a wild throw from shortstop and Garth Ransom hit safely to centre-field.
Foster advanced on Tyler Horrigan’s hit back to the pitcher and scored on the wild throw to second in an attempt at a double play for side away.
Brayden Morton’s hit into centre-field saw Ransom cross the home plate for Tigers’ second run.
It was a slow start for Central as well and the Magpies could not buy a safe hit for six innings.
However, Kyall McClean eventually started the run chase when he hit a Texas Leaguer to centre-field and scored on Brock Keding’s hit into an error to cut the Tigers lead in half.
Central tied the score in the eighth after Brad Lynagh hit a two-bagger and was batted in by Nathan Meinck’s sacrifice fly to centre-field.
The game appeared likely to go into an extra inning heading into the ninth dig, but Tigers stepped up to score and claim the win.
With two out Ransom’s hit up the line to first base created an error and he advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
He then rounded third on Horrigan’s safe hit to right-field and should have been gunned out at the plate, but the resulting throw through the relay went wild and allowed Ransom to sprint home safely, giving Tigers a one-run victory.
Both teams had six safe hits for the match, while Tigers had three walks, one hit batter, one run batted in, 11 runners left on base and two errors.
Central had a single walk, two RBI’s, left four runners on base and made a costly seven errors.
