BASEBALL returned to the Limestone Coast with a bang over the weekend, with some strong play for the opening round.
In a battle of last years grand finalists, reigning premiers Tigers took on Centrals under the lights of Diamond 1 on Friday night to kick the season off.
The night was special for the baseball in the Limestone Coast, with the recognition of Darryl “Syd” Hosking’s induction into the South Australian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hosking was tasked with throwing the opening pitch to Centrals player Nathan Meinck who unfortunately lost his father in the off-season, who was a great team mate to Hosking.
With the formalities over it was time to play and it was Jesse Foster who was given the job for Tigers on the hill, while Centrals went with young gun Alex Ridding.
A tight contest was what the crowd expected and its what it got through the first four innings, with Ben Marcus winding back the clock, diving parallel with the ground to make a play at second base.
Centrals started to make a move when Dylan Chuck collected his second hit for the night and made the game a three-run advantage to centrals.
A pitching change in the sixth saw Joey Sims replace Foster for Tigers and Centrals clearly enjoyed the move.
With errors and hits the scoreboard suddenly blew out of control and before Tigers and it was a 12-2 ball game.
Chuck closed out the last innings to avoid Tigers getting a sniff and the game was called due a mercy rule result after seven innings 12-2.
Tigers missed stars Garth Ransom and Garrett Ha, along with coach Karl Ransom, while Centrals were without young guns Koby Chant and Ethan Chuck.
Paly continued on Saturday afternoon, as Federals made its Division 1 debut after a year in the development stages, where they were up against a young South outfit that has made a number of changes in the off-season.
South and Federals showed what local sport and mateship is all about prior to the first pitch, with both clubs honouring the losses of two South champions in the off-season by standing side-by-side for a minute’s silence.
Ryan Placcucci had the South boys firing early and took a comfortable lead in the first at bat.
Federals have nothing but respect from the league, with the Division 1 side having an average age of 16 years.
Federals leader Matt Nichols was strong on the hill.
South proved to be too strong in the end with a big 17-2 win to get the season off to a flyer.
Results: South 17 d Federals 2. South: B. Nash, R. Placcucci, J. Balshaw 3, R. Walter 2, T. Lockwood, D. Joyce, T. Morale 1; Federals: M. Nicolls 2, J. Wilsomore, J. Telford, C. Williams 1.
Centrals 12 d Tigers 2: Centrals: A. Ridding, D. Chuck, B. Lynagh, Z. Chant 2; Tigers: B. Marcus 2, J. England, J. Foster, M. Thompson 1.
