Batters dominate weekend softball

Millicent Bandits v Concordes United

United stepped up to bat first, showcasing their skills right from the start.

The dynamic duo of Dana Jones and Sarah Thomson made quick work of Bandits Coach Chrystal Locks’ pitching, sending the ball deep into right field and establishing an early lead with three runs.

However, the Bandits tightened their defence, with Lock striking out a batter and bandits taking two impressive infield catches.

When it was the Bandits’ turn to bat, they faced a strong United defense that kept them scoreless.

Debra Hicks managed the only safe hit for the Bandits during this inning, as United continued to assert their dominance on the field.

As the game progressed, the Bandits knew they needed to step up their game.

They responded with a solid defensive inning, achieving three quick outs against United and giving themselves a chance to turn the tide.

In the third inning, Thomson was back at the plate for United, hitting another solid shot into the outfield, but the Bandits tightened up their fielding, shutting down United with three outs.

The Bandits finally found their rhythm, putting runs on the board thanks to some great batting, highlighted by an impressive home run from Chantel Macdonald that had the Bandits’ fans cheering.

With strong base running and Macdonald’s stellar hit, the Bandits finished the inning with four runs, taking the lead.

But United wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

With Rebecca White safely on base after her second hit of the game, Aimee Brooks demonstrated her power by launching a deep hit to centrefield showing that she too can hit impressive home runs, bringing in two more runs for United and reclaiming the lead by one.

With the Bandits trailing by a single run, both teams dug deep, eager to secure a win.

United applied pressure on the Bandits’ batters with sharp fielding and strong pitching from Jones.

Despite the challenges, the Bandits managed two safe hits from Hicks and Maddie Redman, scoring one run to tie the game as they headed into the final inning.

Bandits knew they had to hold United scoreless to have a chance at victory.

Thomson achieved her third safe hit of the game, but the United struggled to convert as Bandits’ defence came alive, preventing any runs from crossing home plate.

In a tense finish, United’s Jones pitching proved too strong forcing the Bandits batters to pop their hits up and the Bandits were retired in order, bringing the game to a close.

The final score stood at 5-5, adding yet another thrilling draw to the season.Demons v Wanderers

Wanderers opening batters struggled to adjust to O’Dines pitching finding Little at third which was start of several of her outs for the day.

Clifford-Finch managed to get on base but was left there at change of innings.

Smith on the mound got a glove to hot line drive by Meinck but it wasn’t enough for the out.

Hart walked to first but Merrett’s hit to Clifford-Finch put Meinck out at third, Little took a hit from Chang picking up the tag and keeping Demons lead runners at bay.

Simone Little was out at first keeping both teams scoreless.

Second innings saw both teams come alive with Emily Little walking to first, Morris on by error and Lovekin bringing two home with a triple to centerfield.

Lovekin was scored off a wild pitch before Finch was put out at third ending Wanderers innings at three.

Demons O’Dine and Donny walked to first, when Feast pushed a line drive to centerfield advancing the runners into scoring position Clifford-Finch took the runner to third before an error at first allowing O’Dine to score.

Meinck scored Chuck but was put out at first shortly followed by Hart.

The third innings saw both teams scoreless with Morris and Lovekin left on base for Wanderers.

The fourth innings saw Clifford-Finch and Ghezzi single but Wanderers were kept scoreless by some tidy Demons fielding.

Wanderers field fought back after O’Dine singled, Clifford-Finch snatched a line drive in the air putting out Dohnt, Smith put Feast out at first, Chuck was out shortly after by Fiona Finch who took a running catch at the foul line in left field.

Emily Little doubled to centrefield and advanced on error to third before Morris singled to bring Little home adding another run.

Meinck and Merrett found themselves in base by error, with Meinck in scoring position after Smith put Hart out at first, Little almost caught Meinck off guard with a tag snatching a line drive from Chant that surely would of scored Demons but to no avail.

Finch ended the Demons innings with another catch at left field. The last innings saw Finch and Smith single, with Smith scoring on error bringing Wanderers to five. T

he last Demons bat was a quick innings with a clean field by Clifford-Finch and Smith taking O’Dine at first and Feast for a K2.

Wanderers took the win 5-3 in a well spirited game in tough conditions for both teams.Concordes White v Warriors

It was only the second time this season that Warriors had all their players available and that was a bonus considering the weather conditions.

Concordes White had a guest appearance by Nikkita Platt who started in the pitcher’s circle to make up their nine.

It was a tough first innings for White with Warriors piling nine on the board with only one safe hit given to RBI machine, Melissa Chuck.

Linley Pollard was behind the plate for Whites and kept any extra bases to a minimum by impressively keeping the ball in front of her.

The blue and white crew were up and off their feet as youngster Maddy Bignell put one deep to Mel Smailing at centrefield and although she nearly pulled up at first having surprised herself with the hit, Bignell got her skates on, rounding for home and a roaring celebration.

In the bottom of the innings, Sarah Polderman gave her coach a reassuring wink that her leg was good to go and she stepped out and threw down some zingers in the heat to Daena Wombwell.

White was held to zero with some sharpish defence by Chuck and Wombwell.

Bignell at shortstop knocked down a sharp shot by White’s Lauren Lunsmann.

Veteran Sam Brown came in to pitch and allowed only one run as Wombwell singled up the middle and was scored by a Polderman single.

The flood gates opened for White in the bottom of the second.

Smailing showed off her swiftness, legging out an infield single to Bignell. Pollard sent one to Kelly Doyle at third, Keely Lunsman and Amber Smith weren’t fazed by Polderman’s pace and picked walks before Brown hit a shallow fly to Taylor Pearson roaming at centre without a run being scored.

Leanne Lunsman then smashed one past Ange Queale on at first that scored two before dangerous hitter Kylie Cook strode up and singled for a RBI.

Platt had been eyeing off the right side of the diamond and tripled out that way to Haley Lindner, crawling back to the base after a bit of foxing.

Wombwell was cooked and Koop was in to catch but Polderman walked Pauline Long and the change was made with Leyna Bruggemann rolling off the shade of the bench having enjoyed some perks of being in charge of the line up.

She threw a pie to Smailing who wasted no time dispatching it for a RBI double to Teresa Hatch now at centre.

Bruggemann jolted herself into gear striking out the next two hitters then her team put another seven on the board in the third dig.

Bignell was at it again with a single to left, Lindner hit an RBI single to centre then Jarvo singled to left as did Hatch.

Dolly made great ground to catch Koop out and then with the bases loaded and after accidentally being hit by a pitch earlier in the game, Linda Dodds had a look of intensity as she strode to the plate.

She drilled one to centre right and made it all the way home, showing great leg speed, and not realising she ticked her RBI tally to five for the day.

Jas Disselbach was up next as her team made their way back into the dugout after celebrating Linda Dodds’ shot and she legged out a single to Dolly without ball watching.

Bruggemann turned on a Brown inside pitch, lining it into the leftfield corner and Chuck waved her homeward into what could have been a nasty collision play but the old timer decided it best not to channel her footy days and slid into Platt without injury caused for an in the parker.

Bignell hit one into the safe glove of Dolly then Keely Lunsmann made a calm last play at second to have Lindner out.

Warriors were keen to finish up and so they did with three White hitters up and up three down.

Dodds took the catch off the bat of Smith who made good contact, Brown out on a 6-3 to Bignell the Queale made the last play herself and the game was done and dusted with Warriors sealing the double chance heading into finals in a fortnight.RESULTS:Millicent Bandits 5 (Debra Hicks 2 Di Horbury, Chantel Macdonald (HR), Maddie Redman and Chrystal Lock) drew with Concordes United 5 (Sarah Thomson 3; Rebecca White 2; Dana Jones and Aimee Brooks (HR)); Wanderers 5 (Fiona Finch, Sonia Morris 2; Rej Smith, Lily Clifford-Finch, Abbie Lovekin, Jess Ghezzi, Emily Little) d Demons 3 (Belinda O’Dine); Warriors 17 (Maddy Bignell, Haley Lindner, Melissa Chuck, Angela Queale, Teresa Hatch, Daena Wombwell, Linda Dodds (HR), Jasmine Disselbach, Sarah Polderman, and Leyna Bruggemann (HR)) d Concordes White 7 (Mel Smailing 2; Kylie Cook, Nikki Platt)