ALL games went according to ladder positions in the first week back of the Mount Gambier Softball league for 2022.
Ladder leaders Concordes White took on Warriors Blue and were pushed all the way, until finally cracking the game open in the final innings.
Batting first Warriors had two runners aboard against pitcher Billie Jones but could not capitalise as she found her groove and recorded a crucial strike out to strand the runners.
Concordes then scored lead-off hitter Jo Hopgood after an attempted pick off at second went wrong, with Maddie Bowd also scoring on the error.
Jones was then back in pitching form in the second and despite some rusty fielding at first base by coach Hopgood, Concordes retired the batters three up, three down.
Concordes built on their first innings with three more safe hits and some heads-up base running to plate two more runs but squandered some chances, leaving the bases loaded when Leyna Bruggemann recorded a timely strike out to end the danger.
Everyone then had the treat of watching Australian player Georgia Hood up to bat for her first club Warriors.
She did not disappoint with a safe hit to right field, which she will surely tell all her new team mates about when she joins the Pensacola State College Softball program in the USA next month.
Bec White batted her around with one of her two safe hits for the day and she scored on some heads-up running which caught Concordes napping.
Warriors then made it interesting in the fourth inning, drawing within one.
Caitlin Bignell reached first base on an error and Jones sensibly avoided anything resembling the strike zone against Hood second time around, issuing her a walk.
Daene Wombwell batted them both in with a safe hit to left field.
Luckily for Concordes Brandi Miller ended the innings taking a diving catch in spectacular fashion and it was game on going into what looked like being the last innings.
Bruggemman showed her mettle and competitive spirit turning a single into a double by diving face first into second to beat the throw, putting the tying run into scoring position.
Concordes held their nerve though, retiring the next three batters and stranding Bruggemann on third.
The final batting innings for Concordes blew out the score to not reflect the intensity of the game, as the flood gates finally opened and they piled on 10 runs on five hits, including a bases-clearing double by Jones and a triple by Maddy Sutherland.
In the end it was a 14-3 victory to Concordes but provided more excitement than the final score indicated.
Meanwhile Concordes United snuck across the line against Warriors White in a close 9-8 result.
Leonie McCallum proved why she is the number one big gun of the team with an incredible five from five safe hits, scoring on three of those occasions and taking catch after catch without ever looking like missing at third base.
Erin Chaplin pitched with accuracy for Warriors all game, recording three strike outs and no walks.
Dana Jones battled through in an uncharacteristically difficult game on the mound, but worked through to keep Warriors to three runs through five innings.
She was assisted by possibly the catch of the season so far by WA import Nashi McNamara, who caught a huge hit headed for the fence off the bat of Bruggemann, who could only applaud as McNamara pulled in a blinder.
At 9-3 the game looked comfortable for Concordes but Warriors had other ideas and nearly pulled off the upset when a few costly fielding errors and a Bec White double saw them pull to within one run.
McNamara fielded the double from White and relayed in to Codie Jackway, who threw to Hannah Taylor to nab the tying run at the plate and end the game in Concordes favour.
In the remaining match, veteran Jo Hart showed her team mates the way with four safe hits in another dominant performance by Wanderers over Demons.
Pitcher Rej Smith only allowed seven hits for Wanderers and Leanne Little had three safe hits in another strong game.
Demons welcomed a new pitcher Janie Pari, who pitched accurately throughout and had a double to right field to show her potential.
In a rebuilding year for Demons, Kezia Feast and Sarah Neiwenhizen continue to lead from the front and new recruit Nell Eastough hit a double to left field in her first at bat.
Wanderers spread their hitting throughout their line up, with all players reaching base and touching home plate at least once throughout the game.
The final score saw a strong 16-6 result to Wanderers.
Results
Concordes United 9 d Warriors White 8. Safe hits – Concordes United: L. McCallum 5, C. Jackway, H. Taylor 3, S. Thomson, D. Jones 2, B. Von Duve, N. McNamara 1; Warriors White: E. Chapin, L. Bruggemann 2, C. Chaplin, C. Bignell, B. White, J. Disselbach 1.
Concordes White 14 d Warriors Blue 3. Safe hits – Concordes White: B. Jones 3, J. Hopgood, M. Sutherland, M. Bowd 2, S. Brown, L. Dodds, H. Taylor, C. Jackway 1; Warriors Blue: L. Bruggemann 3, B. White 2, G. Hood, D. Wombwell 1.
Wanderers 16 d Demons 6. Safe hits – Wanderers: J. Hart 4, L. Little 3, F. Finch 2, L. Clifford-Finch, T. Anderson, C. Kaigg, M. Stevens, B. Bonney 1; Demons: A. Meink 2, S. Chant, K. Feast, V. Radley, N. Eastough, J. Pari 1.
