Back on the diamond

WARRIORS Blue v Concordes United

The blustery and cold conditions could not keep these two teams away for the opening round tradition of the face off between the previous season’s grand finalists.

Tylar Kennett was steely in the pitching circle for United and will undoubtedly continue to improve as she finds her groove, also singling up the middle to Kelly Doyle for Blue.

Blue’s lead off and reigning Grand Final Best on Ground Taylor Pearson notched up a couple of walks, a double and four RBIs, starting this season as she finished the last.

Maddy Bignell had the unenvious responsibility of keeping her cranky sleep deprived pitcher Leyna Bruggemann in line which she did admirably while also legging out an infield single and patiently picking two BBs of her own.

Superwoman Sarah Thomson made a few snazzy plays at short, getting plenty of action throughout the game, plus sharply despatching some Bruggemann pies to Steph Chant roaming at left.

A quiet achiever for Blues is Haley Lindner who had a hit to Bec White at third and two RBIs while playing handy defence at second base.

Her back up Tash Vickers surprised herself, but not anyone else in her team after seeing how she smashed the ball at training, put the ball in play three times and made United work for the outs.

Kennett just kept chipping away with Linley Pollard keeping the ball in front and backing her young charge all the way.

Amber Linquist won the battle in the batter’s box and, having faced five pitches for a 1-2 count, sent one to left for her first hit of the season.

United’s Rosie Clark had her eye in early and she absolutely carted Blue’s pitching tagging a single then a stand up triple to left.

Notorious for hitting up the middle White did not disappoint with a single of her own to centre while coaching with genuine energy lifting enthusiasm – her vibe being contagious to both teams.

Easily the play of the game went to one of United’s rookies, Tekani Clark, who took an absolute screamer catch that Angela Queale lined out to her at left.

Their other rookie Jerri-Lee Cooper enjoyed herself having some good swings and backing up her side at right.

Chant used her new bat to good effect for two safe hits, Doyle with another single to White, and Blue’s very own rookie Kloe Phillips had a hit in her very first game to…you guessed it White at third.

Phillips also took a catch off the deadly bat of Rosie Clark and the crowd went wild.

Blue’s Queale did not get to show off her glove work at the hot corner but she used her voice to good effect, giving mature guidance to Phillips but also in refusing to wear the correct uniform colours and having plenty to say about it.

She got hit by a pitch as did United’s Aimee Brooks, but the latter, usually a ball magnet, only touched the ball twice at centre – singles to Chant and Bruggemann who finally secured a safe hit.

Although the score blew out in the end, the game was fun and plenty of smiles were seen.Wanderers v Concordes United

It was Wanderers first game of season and Concordes United second after facing off against Warriors Blue the previous night.

The weather was terribly wet and homebase looked more like a mud pit.

Clark was first up for Concordes with the ground hit scooped up by kaigg although she got lucky at first with an uncharacteristic drop from Morris.

White Walked and Thompson was safe with a hit over ghezzis head at second.

Brooke struck out and Lindquist got on base with a drop third strike. Pollard took advantage of no right field and popped over Ghezzis head to bring home Thompson and Clark before Lindquist was put out at third ending Concordes innings with three runs.

Wanderers showed their patience and experience with Finch and Smith both walking,

Clifford-Finch was safe with a bunt while Kaigg and Morris were both on with errors in the field.

Chaplin got bat to ball in her return to the game but found the glove of Thompson and was out.

Kaigg was too speedy attempting to steal on an overthrow and was caught off base by white with a strong throw from Pollard.

Ghezzi was safe with an error at shortstop.

A line drive to White ending Wanderers innings at seven runs.

Kennett was glad to see the end of the innings working tirelessly on the mound but there was no rest for her being first up and she placed one over Ghezzis head finding herself at first.

Clark was out again finding Craig’s glove at third.

White and Thompson both found a gap singling to centre field, Brooks was out again finding Morris‘s glove at first.

Clark struck out with Concordes only adding one before their innings was over.

Wanderers were back in although their fantasy was ended early, with Ghezzi, Chaplin and Finch all at third base, leaving Wanderers scoreless.

Concordes were back in and Clark was out by and close out by Morris at first, Thompson and White singled to centrefield and second respectively while Brooks walked.

Lindquist was not so lucky this time with another dropped third strike, with little having her at first.

Kennett doubled to centrefield bringing White and Thompson home.

Wilson found Finch’s glove and Concordes finished their innings with six runs and taking the lead from Wanderers.

Wanderers were back in and Morris walked, when Kaigg doubled to leftfield which surely would have been a home run if it wasn’t for the speedy Brooks at leftfield.

Chaplin singled to second bringing home Kaigg, while Ghezzi walked and Morris went home on a wild pitch.

Little singled to third but put Chaplin out, Finch advanced Ghezzi and Little with safe bunt before Smith walked Clifford-Finch took a pitch in the leg and brought home Little.

Morris singled to second bringing home Finch home and ending the game with a claw back 13-11 victory to Wanderers.Demons v Warriors Blue

It was a rainy Saturday in October and Demons took on the newly formed team Warriors Blue coming off their opening round win the night before.

Taylor Pearson was patient at the plate earning herself a walk while Demons Cody Manning found her groove on the mound.

Manning clapped back with a K2, before Warriors coach Leyna Bruggemann took the bat for a cheeky bunt which saw her out at first.

Angela Queale hit a blinder to leftfield which was too hot for Demons coach Feast and her little legs. Demons worked hard in the defence allowing Blue only one run home for the innings.

In true Demons style, the girls started slow on the bat with a K2 and two caught flys which left the red and blue scoreless for the first innings.

Demons came stronger in the defence with a swift three up three down and now it was time for redemption on the bat.

Little and Burner started the team off strong with safe hits each to newcomer Kloe Philips at shortstop, who is sure to be one to watch throughout the season.

Returning to the diamond after a very long hiatus was Demons newby Krissie Smith who landed herself on first base on an error play.

Demons scored one in the second, tying the scoreboard.

Warriors Jasmine Disselbach was quote ‘chuffed’ with her amazing safe hit to centrefield.

Disselbach started a frenzy for Blue with following batters Pearson, Bignell and Bruggemann taking up bases.

Demons worked tight in the field to get out of loaded bases trying to minimise damage on the scoreboard and kept Warriors to a three run dig.

Meg Merrett for Demons was lucky to earn herself first base after an error play, who was followed by trusty Manning who hit a two bagger out to left field.

Coach Feast, after a not so successful first plate appearance decided to try her luck at the bunt with runners on two and three and magically pulled it off leaving Demons with loaded bases in three batters.

Little moved her girls around and Demons were off.

Katelyn Laube, on her debut game, kept her cool and hit a blinder out to rightfield.

Demons ended the innings with four runs and took the lead for the first time in the game.

Determined to keep their lead Demons took the field eager to seal their first win of the season.

Blue scored no runs in the 4th and Demons took the final innings in their stride with a hefty seven run dig with safe hits from Hart, Manning, Little, Laube and another sneaky bunt from Feast.

Demons were heads up base running and ultimately this is what sealed the deal for them coming away with the win 12-4.

RESULTS

Warriors Blue 18 (Steph Chant 2; Taylor Pearson, Maddy Bignell, Leyna Bruggemann, Haley Lindner, Kloe Phillips, Kelly Doyle) d Concordes United 4 (Rosie Clark, Sarah Thomson 2; Bec White, Amber Linquist, Tylar Kennett)

Wanderers 13 (Leanne Little, Kat Chaplin, Charli Kaigg, Lily Clifford-Finch, Fiona Finch) d Concordes United 11 (Sarah Thomson 3; Bec White, Tylar Kennett 2; Linley Pollard)

Demons 11 (Cody Manning 3; Simone Little, Katelyn Laube 2; Em Hart, Hayley Burner) d Warriors Blue 4 (Leyna Bruggemann 2; Taylor Pearson, Ange Queale, Jasmine Disselbach)