WARRIORS 9 d CONCORDES UNITED 8
CONCORDES United entered Saturday’s Round 11 softball clash with Warriors high off a dominant performance against its sister side last week and sitting on top of the ladder.
A tight battle unfolded and at the end of the match Warriors emerged narrow one-run victors.
Concordes threatened early after Codie Jackway was hit by a pitch, before she scooted around the bases to be scored by a crisp Hannah Taylor shot up the middle.
However, Warriors’ star Sarah Polderman threw down some genuine pace to stun United with four stikeouts in the first two digs.
United’s first innings was snubbed out by a good throw from Warriors’ right fielder Skylea McLean to stop the runner at first.
Polderman led off Warriors’ hitting with a single, scored by a Linda Dodds hit, then Bec White continued the green in the scorebook with a double to right.
Kelly Doyle and Arrabelle Searle rounded out the first innings for Warriors with hits as well.
Doyle was strong behind the plate for Warriors, picking up several tricky pitches in the dirt.
United managed a base runner with Julie Beck wearing a pitch in her foot, before she was moved around on a crafty bunt to reigning league MVP Dana Jones.
Beck scored before Tash Vickers closed the innings with a good catch at centre for Warriors.
Warriors remained patient in the batter’s box, even in the face of an adjudicated 9.25 backwards somersault foul fly catch to Taylor.
They scored another two in the bottom of the second to hold a 5-2 lead over the reigning premiers.
Concordes rallied and Jackway hit two doubles in the third and fourth innings, while Jones hit a triple.
That was followed by four scored runs, with a two RBI Taylor double, a single from Bec Von Duve, and a double to Beck.
As such Warriors faced a three-run deficit heading into their last bat.
White lasered a triple as the lead off, which was scored when McLean put the ball into play.
Melissa Chuck and Jasmine Disselbach both picked walks and gave their team much-needed base runners.
Vickers then forced an error which scored a run before she was scored by another Polderman hit to centre to secure the win in a thriller.
DEMONS 7 d WANDERERS 0
The final Mount Gambier Softball game for 2022 was played between Demons and Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
After a strong clash from both sides, it was Demons which prevailed 7-0.
Fielding was faultless from both teams which left the score at 1-0 at the end of the third innings.
Demons’ pitcher Billie Jones was strong on the mound as she upheld her form with several strikeouts.
However, Demons found it hard to find the batting groove against Wanderers’ pitcher Rej Smith and were left frustrated with runners left on bases every innings.
Wanderers junior Charli Kaigg showed her promise with an impressive bat landing her on second base.
Demons’ first base Cindy Burford had plenty of catches for the day, which made things tough for Wanderers to get on base.
Demons finally found a run with the bat in the bottom of the fourth innings with a hit from Jones earning two RBI’s.
They then powered home to score six runs at the death to finish the game with a seven-run win, despite the closeness of the match.
ROUND 11 RESULTS
Warriors 9 d Concordes United 8. Safe hits – Warriors: Sarah Poldermann, Linda Dodds, Bec White, Kelly Doyle 2, Arabelle Searle 1; Concordes United: Dana Jones, Codie Jackway, Hannah Taylor 2, Bec VonDuve, Julie Beck 1.
Demons 7 d Wanderers 0. Safe hits – Demons: Em Hart, Cindy Burford, Kezia Feast, Sarah Nieuwenhuizen, Billie Jones, Steph Chant, Amber Clarke 1.
