CONCORDES White avenged its first round loss with a resounding victory in its games against the Warriors on the weekend in the latest round of softball.
In the first innings, Aleesha Tucker starred with two safe hits, while Maddy Sutherland, Sam Brown and Karly Pearson all picked up one.
Warriors’ Bec White led from the front for her team with a huge three-bagger but safe hits were hard to come by for the team in blue.
Sarah Polderman had a few great catches at left field in very difficult conditions as the wind made life difficult.
Sam Brown started the second dig with a double, then Kate Altschwager and Linley Pollard followed with singles as well as a slap hit to Tucker.
Concordes backed up their pitcher Karly Pearson, with efforts in the field including a strong outfield catch by Altschwager to catch out Erin Chaplin, who pitched a solid game for her team.
The final innings saw a further six runs added by Concordes, while Bec White again had a safe hit for warriors.
Concordes finished the game in style with Sam Brown showing her skills at second base with two plays for two outs and Maddy Sutherland took a ripping hard line drive catch at third base to end the game.
In the other match, Concordes United made it a good day for the club with a late win against Demons.
It was very tight early, as neither team scored in the first two innings thanks to great pitching by Demons’ Billie Jones and returning player Montanna Millard, who slotted back in to the line-up without missing a beat.
Demons broke the deadlock first, with an RBI double to Em Hart.
Concordes fought back in the fourth innings with a single to Lorrell Walker scoring Millard.
Walker then made it home herself when disciplined batting by youngster Amber Lindquist saw her pick a walk with loaded bases.
At two-all the game was in the balance, but Concordes roared home in the last innings to score 10 runs to seal the game 12-6.
The final inning wad highlighted by a great bases-clearing hit by Sarah Thomson.
Millard starred with both bat and ball with four safe hits, which included three doubles.
She also only allowed three safe hits for the game.
Nashi McNamara also slotted back into the side as though she had never missed a game.
Demons were kept in the game with beautiful catching by Hart and Kezia Feast, who put in an impressive coaching-display.
Along with the regular season games, there was also an all-stars game which took place at the Blue Lake Sports Park.
The inaugural All Stars Fully Loaded Match helped raise funds for the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group.
With a great crowd in attendance, the Golden Girls took on the Elite 11 and were ready to put on a good show but with a strong eye for bragging rights as team-mates faced each other for the first time.
Fully Loaded softball means every innings starts with loaded bases, and with the fences brought in, it promised to be a run fest.
The Golden Girls batted first and opened with two runs but were well held by the Demons’ pitcher-catcher combination of Billie Jones and Em Hart.
Jones kept momentum for her side with a double, and a sac fly from sister Dana Jones, which helped Elite 11 take a 4-2 lead after the first.
The Golden Girls rallied with two out in the second innings to pile on six runs.
This was thanks to some impressive base running by Polderman and a beautiful hit to Cindy Burford.
Lily Clifford-Finch dominated at left field for the Golden Girls and was one of the best on ground with a handful of excellent catches to deny an home-run aspirations.
Maddy Sutherland smoked one in the second for Elite 11 to start a good run of hits which saw them score four runs, this meant scores were level at 8-8 after two innings.
The close game continued with scores still level at 10-10 after three as tight fielding and good pitching denied easy runs.
Polderman was in inspired form as she pulled in absolutely everything for her side at short stop, while Feast matched her with wonderful commitment and encouragement to her team mates.
The top of the fourth saw Elite 11 put four on the board before an out was recorded and it looked like the game was slipping away.
However crowd-favourite Jarvo Queale pitched brilliantly to induce three fly outs to abruptly end the innings.
This have her side a chance to steal victory with five runs needed in the last at bat.
Fittingly it was Lily Clifford-Finch that drew the match for the Golden Girls with a lovely hit to centre field.
Clifford Finch then ran home to claim victory for her side after an RBI from Abbey Lovekin.
