Back-to-back titles for Warriors

IT was back-to-back titles for Warriors at the weekend when the eventual premiers put in a near flawless performance to end Concordes United end of season dream run.

Despite United scoring two in the top of the first via a season MVP Dana Jones triple, an error and an Aimee Brooks double, Warriors old hat Leyna Bruggemann had Julie Beck and Billie Jones struck out and the blue and white team unfazed at the early runs against.

Warriors lead off Justine Koop flew out to Brooks, Sarah Polderman walked, stole then used

Angela Queale strode up, faced a Dana Jones ball then expertly put down the squeeze bunt and Polderman slid in to home under the tag for a run.

Warriors had a couple of other base runners but did not further trouble the commentating scoreboard operators.

In the second dig, United’s Bec White had a seven pitch lead off at bat with a single to Maddy Bignell at right.

Dana Jones then put down a bunt that loaded the bases but Warriors were up to the challenge as Jas Disselbach made an out before Queale made the last out off Beck’s bat with another run added to United’s tally, and at that point, a 3-1 lead.

United were then faced with the true Warriors batting juggernaut as they responded with five; taking control of game.

First up Haley Lindner hit to Beck for a put out at first, Maddy Bignell singled to Tylar Kennett at second before her energised cousin Koop singled to centre.

Polderman grounded a tricky one to Sarah Thomson at shortstop, as did Queale and United were on the ropes and swinging the changes.

Mel Chuck then put one to Jactina Packer at centre and scored two after Queale was waved round to home, colliding with catcher Codie Jackway who followed the wayward throw up the line and was always going to come off second best without the ball.

Bruggemann singled scoring Chuck, league runner up MVP Daena Wombwell legged out an infield single, Taylor Pearson chipped one in front of the speedy Packer who made the heads up play, throwing out Wombwell at second.

Lindner walked and Bignell flew out to Packer before the innings was done.

United were held to a donut in the third before Warriors continued to take a stranglehold on the contest, scoring six more runs in response.

United responded with one in the fourth after Packer got after the first pitch of the innings with a single to Disselbach now at right, Dana Jones was struck out taking Bruggemann’s count to six, Thomson flew out to Chuck and then Beck, determined not to be beaten by offspeed junk, spun one to right that went off at a right angle and Packer made it all the way home before Billie Jones hit the first pitch she faced straight down Koop’s throat at centre for the last out.

Mirroring United’s efforts, Warriors put another run on the board as Chuck drilled one but was caught then Bruggemann didn’t but her hit was bobbled so it balanced the ledger.

Wombwell, having had a great day behind the plate, put down the sac bunt as her side pressed to end the game mercy in four with Linda Dodds utilised as a substitution for her youthful speed to run.

She scored as Pearson hit in another run and was safe at first by a whisker much to United’s disappointment but they finished the dig with a K2.

United dug deep in the fifth with Brooks singling to Chuck who was attempting to channel her inner-Simone Macdonald fielding the ball with her bare hand and without diving.

Kennett smoked one to Bruggemann but the pensioner was utilising her catching skills from a previous life, blocking the shot and lobbing it over to Pearson at first.

White had her old team’s number and singled to left that scored Brooks who had cruised round to third on the over throw after stealing second.

Jackway cleverly bunted herself on before Packer singled to left for an RBI then Dana Jones stepped up and with two strikes and no balls, lined a sacrifice fly to Polderman before Thomson hit one to the tiring Bruggemann but not before United had three additional runs and the score was 7-12.

The coaching brainstrust was aware of what was required and lead off Hatch singled to left then took advantage of a couple of wild pitches finding herself at third with Koop walked.

Koop was gifted second base by United and Polderman was given the home run signal by the coach, zinging one to Dana Jones who calmly held the runner and played first.

It was Queale’s time to be the hero and she delivered with the bat, the experienced campaigner got her pitch and ripped it to left, scoring both Hatch and Koop with the walk off win to her side.

Taylor Pearson was named grand final MVP in the15-7 victory.