Top four still not finalised

Millicent Bandits v Wanderers

Millicent Bandits and Wanderers faced off for the third time this season, with both teams having secured a win in their previous encounters.

This set the stage for an exciting match and with minimal warm-up, Bandits took to the field first.

Young talent Montanna Millard was sidelined for the season due to surgery, which saw coach Chrystal Lock stepping onto the pitching mound for just the second time this year.

The Bandits displayed strong defensive cohesion, limiting Wanderers to a single safe hit recorded by Fiona Finch in the opening innings.

Leading off for Bandits,‘foul queen’ Di Horbury showcased her signature patience, hitting eight foul balls before delivering a solid shot to left field.

Mackenzie Millard and Lock followed up with safe hits, driving in runners and closing the first innings with a 3-0 lead.

The second innings saw the Bandits tighten their defense, executing a swift three-up, three-down scenario to deny the Wanderers any scoring opportunities.

Back at bat, the Bandits capitalised on well-placed hits and disciplined patience, adding five more runs to extend their lead to 8-0 by the end of the innings.

The third innings brought some momentum for the Wanderers as Rej Smith demonstrated patience at the plate, drawing a walk, which was followed by Lili Clifford-Finch’s impressive three-base hit to bring in their first run.

A well-placed bunt from Fiona Finch allowed her daughter to cross home plate, closing their at-bat with two runs.

In response, the Bandits continued their strategic approach, with their first three batters reaching base through walks.

However, the Wanderers’ infield defense tightened, preventing further significant impact from batted balls.

By the end of the innings, the Bandits held a commanding 11-2 lead.

The final innings saw fatigue set in for Lock on the mound from lack of pre-game warm up, resulting in an unfortunate hit-by-pitch that sent Wanderers’ coach Leanne Little straight to first base—a moment sure to leave a lasting bruise.

A strong hit to left field from Skylea McLean brought Little home, contributing to the Wanderers’ two additional runs for the inning.

Despite Wanderers’ efforts, the Bandits’ lead proved insurmountable.

The final at-bat saw solid defensive play from the Wanderers, preventing any further runs.

The game concluded with a well-earned victory for the Bandits, securing an 11-4 win.

Concordes White v Demons

After two draws, the fact it was the last time Demons and White would face each other in minor rounds, both teams were hungry for someone to come away with the win.

White started at the plate with pitcher Karly Pearson first up to bat.

With a one strike and two ball count she hit an infield fly ball which was caught by Demons Sarah Dohnt at first base.

Sam Brown entered cool and calm and hit to Steph Chant, but with a tricky bounce still managed to make the out at first.

Demons were two outs in two batters.

Pauline Lang stayed composed at the plate and earnt herself a walk, before big guns Kylie Doll hit a safe single to second moving Lang to second.

Fill-in Billie Jones was up to bat next, but Demons pitcher Cody Manning worked hard at the mound and got her first K2 for the game and White scored no runs.

After a solid defensive innings, the red and blue were eager to put some runs on the board.

Solid starter Abbey Meinck earnt herself a safe single to centerfield, before Em Hart hit a blinder to left earning herself three bases and scoring Meinck.

Manning hit a safe single to third base and Kezia Feast was patient in the box and waited for the walk.

teph Chant and Sarah Dohnt followed suit of safe hitting and both earnt themselves a double with Chant scoring Manning and Feast.

White pitcher Karly Pearson worked hard on the mound and got a K2 for Demons first out.

After two more walks, a line drive straight back to Pearson for a second out and Manning, Feast and Chant all scoring their second safe hits for the innings, side was called and Demons finished the offensive with 10 runs.

White keen to add some runs on the board and Demons hungry to hold their lead pitcher Manning worked hard for 2 K2s in two batters, followed by another ground ball play from Chant at third to Dohnt at first.

With no score on the board White knew they had to put in a solid defensive innings and they did just that.

Veteran Sam Brown swapped out with Pearson on the mound and was ready to work hard to keep Demons at bay.

Lauren Lunsmann took an amazing fly catch at left field, Doll fielded a ground ball at shortstop and got the out at one and White got their three out in four batters – Demons failed to score.

In the third both teams put two runs on the bored, with White able to add another one in the fourth before time and game was called, ending with a score of 12 – 3 Demons way.

Warriors v Concordes United

Warriors were hoping to consolidate their top spot but knew better than to take United lightly.

Warriors immediately scored a run in the top of the first after Justine Koop was scored on a fantastic double by Angela Queale to Aimee Brooks at left.

Melissa Chuck dropped one in front of Jactina Packer at centre with Queale smartly holding up.

She must have known what was to come and was planning to steal third, which she did with her serious face on but wasn’t able to score before United pitcher Dana Jones registered her first of three strikeouts for the game.

United put their own run on the board care of a cracking triple by Brooks.

Linda Dodds singled in the second before being caught stealing by United catcher Codie Jackway.

Maddy Bignell picked a walk but then was put out in a lovely double play between Linley Pollard at first and Julie Beck at short stop.

United were three up three down, Queale, Taylor Pearson and Koop making the plays.

Warriors rallied in the third with Koop leading off with a walk, Queale having a monumental at bat but was caught by Brooks, then Leyna Bruggemann scored Koop on an infield play.

Chuck drove one deep for an RBI double before being scored herself by a Teresa Hatch line drive to left.

Dodds tagged one to centre left for a triple of her own, proud as punch as she pulled up at third and a total of four added to her team’s tally.

United were again three up three down in three pitches with Jackway flying out to Hatch at short, Queale stepped into foul territory for a classic back hand catch then Beck hit one to Chuck.

Warriors added two, making Jones work hard in the circle giving up two walks and two hits – Chuck on fire with another up the middle and Pearson with a RBI single to left.

United’s Brooks went beautifully with an outside pitch to Jas Disselbach at right, who came up throwing just as was practised earlier in the week, but Brooks was too speedy.

Warriors made the next three plays looking infinitely better than the previous week’s debacle.

It was Billie Jones into pitch at the top of the fifth for United and although she walked the lead off in Dodds then had Kelly Doyle singling to left, she was throwing strikes and had Disselbach out on a fly to Pollard at first for the second out after Dodds thought she had her foot on the base at second but it was in fact the freshly laid dirt from the working bee earlier in the day.

Queale absolutely drilled one but Packer was all over it, making a sensational catch running in the centre left alley to shut Warriors down with the score 7-1.

Warriors Hatch made a steady play to have Harmony Kennett out throwing over to first, Packer mishit one forcing an error with her speed.

Jackway skied one to Bruggemann and with two out Dana Jones stepped up and definitively spanked a strike to the fence, legging out a well deserved in the park home run.

Beck was the last out of the game, making Koop jump up from behind the plate to take a good catch and the score settling 7-3.RESULTS:Bandits 11 (Dianne Horbury, Mackenzie Millard & Chrystal Lock 2; Debra Hicks & Emilee Mitchell) d Wanderers 4 (Fiona Finch, Lily Clifford-Finch, Skylea McLean, Jess Ghezzi, Rej Smith); Demons 12 (Cody Manning 3; Kezia Feast, Em Hart, Steph Chant 2; Abbey Meinck, Sarah Dohnt) d Concordes White 3 (Karly Pearson, Sam Brown, Billie Jones); Warriors 7 (Mel Chuck 3; Linda Dodds 2; Ange Queale, Taylor Pearson, Teresa Hatch, Kelly Doyle d Concordes United 3 (Aimee Brooks 2, Dana Jones 1HR)