IT was double-header weekend at Mount Gambier and District baseball, as Centrals and Tigers drew the Friday night schedule with back-to-back games.
It was a chance for Tigers, if they could break through for a win against the in-form Centrals, to close the gap at the top of the ladder.
However, game one was a Centrals masterpiece, with the boys in black and white cruising to an 11-0 victory.
Dylan Chuck was on song for Centrals on the mound, with Tigers again struggling to find bat in ball at the right times.
Matt Thompson led the way for Tigers with the bat, collecting three of the four hits for the game, while Tigers left five runners on the bases.
Game two saw a closer start, with Centrals scoring in the opening innings but then nothing for the next two for either side in a much closer affair.
Alex Ridding did his part to show why he is a future star of any baseball league, with an in-the-park home run in the fourth innings.
Tigers veteran Ben Marcus wound back the clock at second base with some impressive plays. However, Centrals were too strong in the end and claimed an 8-2 win.
Tigers would be pleased with the batting display in the second game with six safe hits to Centrals’ eight.
Meanwhile, South Indians took on the bottom-of-the-ladder Federals on Saturday afternoon on a wet and stormy day.
South certainly did not have the game on its own terms, with the young Federals team pushing them all the way.
After a three-run first innings South looked to run away, but a Federals’ hitting display in the second term saw the Demons claw back to make it all square.
A Tristan Miller two-run double to field help Federals stay afloat in the game, before South piled on a six-run fifth inning to make the game a mercy rule finish with a score line of 17-6.
Declan Habner was the man of match in game one with his three hits and class pitching effort.
Game two was played directly after and it was the game Federals were hoping for.
The drought was broken and the Demons celebrated as they picked up their first win for the season in a see-saw battle.
South made some costly errors at times and Federals capitalised to keep the scoreboard ticking over just nicely.
South continued to push but it was too late, with Federals winning the game and getting the monkey of their back with an 11-9 result.
In The Under 13s Gold grade Tigers player Titan Dumigan achieved every kids baseball dream Saturday afternoon when he hit a grand slam home run over the fence to bring all the runners home including himself.
The home run also put his team in-front and gave Tigers the win.
Results
Division 1: Game one – Centrals 11 d Tigers 0. Game two Centrals 8 d Tigers 2.
Game one – South 17 d Federals 6. Game two – Federals 11 – South 9.
Division 2: Tigers 17 d Federals 1; Centrals 10 d South 0.
Division 3: Centrals 11 d South 8; Centrals Magpies 14 d Federals 7; Tigers 22 d Millicent 0.
Under 15s: South 11 d Tigers 2; Central’s 10 d Tigers 2.
Under 13s Gold: Tigers 10 d Federals 8; Centrals 10 d South 5.
Under 13s Blue: Centrals 8 d Tigers 0.
