AN inter-club Mount Gambier softball semi-final has been set up after the weekend’s games decided the finals layout.
Concordes finished the minor rounds with its United side in first place and White in second after both sides recorded strong wins to end their regular seasons on a high.
They will face off this weekend in a qualifying final to see who books a grand final position.
Last weekend Concordes White took on the much-improved Warriors Blue, who gave Demons a hiding the week before in a fierce batting display which saw them seal a finals berth.
After an extremely consistent season White have had a bit of a slump with the bat by their high standards in recent weeks and looked to bounce back against a team they have had a lot of success over so far this season.
The first innings started promisingly for Concordes with a lead-off single to Jo Hopgood, who has been quiet in recent weeks, while an error in the field saw Maddy Sutherland also aboard with none out.
Billie Jones provided the RBI double that scored both runners, then Rachel Bagshaw singled on a bunt and Maddie Bowd picked a walk to load up the bases with none out.
However, an uncharacteristic base running error by White failed to score a sac fly and with an infield fly and a routine force out Warriors got out of the innings without further damage.
Jones took the mound to start off for White and immediately looked on, striking out two in the first and inducing a fly ball from in form hitter Mel Chuck to strand two.
In the second Kate Altschwager led off with a cracking shot to left and advanced on another Hopgood single.
She was scored on a fielder’s choice play but again Concordes left two runners on base to end the innings.
Jones worked a 3-up-3 down bottom second for her team, with her third strike out and some simple ground balls.
Alli Kreplins then lit things up with a hit to left field that just cleared the outstretched glove of Skylea McLean.
Kreplins’ eyes lit up as it went past and she flew around the bases, even taking on the rocket arm of Sarah Polderman to slide safely into home for an in-the-park home run that would have probably been a double for just about anyone else.
Not to be outdone, Rachel Bagshaw stole the show in the field for Concordes in the bottom third innings, with two first class plays.
With a runner on first and third bases and none out, Bagshaw orchestrated the perfect trap play with catcher Sam Brown, who tricked the runner into thinking the throwdown was on at second and then pinging her out trying to steal home.
Leyna Bruggemann then stepped up and hit a laser beam over the head of Bowd at left field.
Daena Wombell scored and Bruggemann rounded for third, but not even a head first slide could save her from a perfectly executed relay and tag out from Bowd, Bagshaw and Maddy Sutherland.
Bruggeman got her revenge on both Bagshaw and Kreplins with strike outs in the innings thanks to some excellent change-of-pace pitches and in the bottom of the fifth it all closed up when Concordes, who had threatened to take the game away all day, faced a late challenge.
A lead-off walk and a safe hit to Polderman, plus a couple of errors, saw Bec White hit a sac fly to left which scored Jasmine Disselbach.
Polderman was then scored on an error and the bases were loaded for Skylea McLean with two out.
Unfortunately for her a solid hit found the glove of the best fielder on the park and Bagshaw made no mistake throwing across to first for the final out to seal the 4-3 victory.
However, Warriors will take a lot of confidence from the game and will add Jarvo Queale back into their line up next week, which will give them a huge boost with her batting prowess.
Meanwhile, Wanderers only had to avoid a 13-run-or-more loss to Demons to finish in fourth spot and claim the last finals berth and they made no mistake, despite a shaky start.
Demons scored three runs in the first innings after multiple wild throws, but Wanderers settled their nerves and prevented what would have been a total disaster after their fast start this season by claiming the victory convincingly in the end, 18-10.
Pitching accuracy was the main issue for Demons, with a lot of free passes offered to Wanderers.
Demons actually had more safe hits on the day than their opponents, but could not make the Wanderers batters chase and ultimately for Wanderers it was a disciplined victory as they kept their patience, even without regular pitcher Rej Smith.
Kezia Feast finished off a great season for her with three safe hits for Demons and Tracey Anderson also had three for Wanderers.
Concordes United just had to win to secure the minor premiership in the late game and did so in style, defeating Warriors White 18-2.
Codie Jackway continued her white-hot form with four more safe hits, followed by Montanna Millard and Dana Jones with three each.
Polderman continued her good form for the day with a home run to centrefield for Warriors White, but it was one of only five hits allowed by pitcher Jones on the day.
Finals kick off tomorrow, with Wanderers to face Warriors Blue at 1pm, followed by Concordes United against Concordes White at 3pm.
Result
Concordes White 4 d Warriors Blue 3. Safe hits – Concordes White: J. Hopgood, K. Altschwager 2, B. Jones, R. Bagshaw, M. Bowd, A. Kreplins (HR), S. Brown 1; Warriors Blue: L. Bruggemann, S. Polderman 2, D. Wombwell, B. White 1.
Wanderers 18 d Demons 10. Safe Hits – Wanderers: T. Anderson 3, M. Stevens, F. Finch, J. Hart, L. Little 1; Demons: K. Feast 3 S. Nieuwenhuizen, I. Morale 2, T. Baker, V. Radley, S. Morale 1.
Concordes United 18 d Warriors White 2. Safe hits – Concordes United: C. Jackway 4, D. Jones, M. Millard 3, B. Von Duve 2, L. McCallum, B. Jones 1; Warriors White: S. Polderman 2 (1HR), D. Wombwell, B. White, C. Bignell 1.
