Big batting a highlight

CONCORDES UNITED V WARRIOR WHITE

Bec White started in the circle for United as Tylar Kennett sprinted onto the diamond in time for the batting dig.

White, always one to accept a challenge, threw some strikes and a few balls with Warriors White scoring three after walks to TSarah Polderman, Melissa Chuck, perennial team player Kelly Doyle and newcomer Hannah Taylor wearing one to the leg.

Harlow Castleman’s rocking eyebrow undoubtedly assisted her launch one out to TeKani Clark at left who stretched out her long wing for a great shoestring catch.

Maddy Bignell hit one up to Jerri-Lee Cooper and Taylor Pearson to Sez Thomson for the last out.

Polderman had her scope sighted as she threw a good portion of strikes except hitting Thomson, but nothing was slowing that woman down as she scored off a double White hit into the vacant right field that scored two.

Daz Wilson’s quality swings paid dividends with a single out to Castleman but she had herself out leaving the base early, something she will undoubtedly never do again.

Doyle was fantastic behind the plate and supported Polderman every pitch.

Kennett was switched in to pitch for United in the second dig and although Warriors were again patient and picked three walks, Kennett also made a great play off Jas Disselbach’s bat and stuck out another hitter with Thomson making the last play, flicking a short one over to her mate White at third for the third out.

United then added four to their tally with Cooper singling.

TeKani Clark calmly took a full count walk despite facing Polderman’s lasers, her mum Rosie then showed the grasshopper how it was done with a lovely single to Bignell at centre.

Thomson (pictured right) smoked a line drive that deflected off Polderman’s glove before Aimee Brooks put one out to the right side scoring two and Thomson put the Warriors defence under pressure with a trap play to avoid being out by miles at the plate.

Warriors got the yips and Thomson craftily scored.

White then nearly hit the glove off of Taylor’s backhand with another line drive shot.

Wilson flew out to Taylor and then it was Disselbach at short making the third out at third, tossing the ball to Pearson.

It was in the third innings where Warriors put United under pressure by putting the ball into play, Bignell and Pearson singled twice and Polderman smoked one out to left for a triple.

Disselbach professionally singled behind the runners to Emalee Dowdell at right for two RBIs before there was ten on the board.

United were quickly two out with Chuck in on the action, catching a fly off of Cooper’s bat and expertly taking the orange base for the swung third strike that got away from Doyle.

United were not giving up easily as Kennett walked and Rosie Clark singled to centre.

Thomson managed not to swing at the first pitch she faced for the third time that evening and smashed a triple past Bignell at centre.

It was Chuck that snubbed out the rally, unflappably taking a line drive off Brooks’ bat for the last play of the game and her team’s victory 13 to 8.

WANDERERS V WARRIORS WHITE

Warriors White are now officially on a well deserved winning streak with their victory over Wanderers.

Sarah Polderman was loaded again with some fabulous pitching for Warriors White however Wanderers spritely lead off Fiona Finch bunted for a safe hit to Mel Chuck before promptly stealing.

She was thrown out not tagging up after Hannah Taylor, who continues to impress at second, took a catch off Rej Smith’s bat and had the veteran Finchy out for the double play.

Sonia Morris proved how much she loves hitting to the right side by flying out to first base Chuck in foul territory.

Wanderers matched the steady defensive efforts their counterparts had shown despite Smith walking Polderman and Dodds, she more than redeemed herself with two catches as well as catching Dodds out not having gotten back to first in time.

Polderman registered a strike out for her side’s first out, Wanderers’ Abbie Frankenburg forced an error at shortstop before Polderman made the ground ball out off the dangerous bat of reigning SA Softball volunteer of the year Leanne Little.

Kelly Doyle was also backing up in the most important position on the diamond as catcher, throwing Charli Kaigg out on a K2-3 and the scores still nil all going into the bottom half of the second dig.

Doyle fashioned a lead off walk, Taylor worked the count before being thrown out at first by Smith, and little legend Harlow Castleman went down swinging.

Fill in, batting last in the order, Em Hart singled to left, being scored on a Polderman (pictured below left) zinger up the middle to Emily Little at centre.

Dodds forced an error, Jas Disselbach walked, and Chuck forced an error out of the usually reliable Lily Clifford-Finch, no doubt she was playing too deep, wary of Chuck’s speed.

Doyle walked again and Taylor flew out to Clifford-Finch with four on the board.

Wanderers responded with two of their own via Maddie Beck stoically walking on a full count as lead off, Finch wore a laser to the scone, Smith was put out by Chuck and Clifford-Finch drilled a shot out to the vacant right field, flying around the bases and was put out at home by a great Warriors relay, unperturbed by a foul ball lobbing into the middle of the proceedings from the other diamond.

Taylor was worth her weight in gold as she took another catch, this time off Morris’ bat.

Castleman hit one back to Smith for her fifth play of the day, Hart walked and Poldermman singled to Leanne Little at third.

Dodds got under one for an infield fly, and Disselbach hit behind the runners again scoring Polderman.

Chuck hit to the person most likely to take a catch in the whole of the league in Finch at left for the last out.

Wanderers started the last dig with pizzazz.

Emily Little singled to Dodds, Frankenburg was put out by Chuck and Little did something quite uncommon, having the scorer put a green nine next to her name, far more common was the coinciding RBI.

Kaigg walked and Beck again faced a lot of pitches before hitting one back to Polderman.

Finch legged out a single to Taylor and Smith was to be the last out giving her opposite number in Polderman another play.

Warriors White then topped off a great weekend for the team with another three runs after Doyle got the trifecta of walks, Taylor was thrown out by Clifford-Finch, and Castleman mishit one or bunted on two strikes safely to Smith.

Hart walked and Polderman flew out to Clifford-Finch before Dodds pulled one to Beck forcing an error and scoring two.

Disselbach was the last out of the game, hitting it back to, yes you guessed it, Smith, who was solid as a rock for her team in the field.

BANDITS V WARRIORS BLUE

Bandits lit up Diamond 1 on Saturday with a dominant 16–6 win over Warriors Blue, turning a tight early battle into a powerhouse performance!

Warriors Blue opened the game with confidence, pushing runners on early and cashing in with disciplined at-bats.

They applied real pressure across the first three innings, taking advantage of walks and hustling on every opportunity to bring runs across.

Bandits refused to back down and once the bats warmed up, they exploded.

Clean hits, smart baserunning, and pure determination saw Bandits pile on the runs inning after inning.

Every player who reached base turned it into a scoring chance, and the momentum swung entirely their way.

Both sides produced some impressive fielding moments, but Bandits’ defence tightened beautifully as the game went on, shutting down threats, stranding runners, and backing up their pitcher with steady hands and quick outs.

With confidence high and runners everywhere, Bandits kept the scoreboard moving until they’d built an uncatchable lead.

Warriors Blue battled all the way, but Bandits had the answers at every turn sealing a convincing 16–6 victory.

RESULTS

Warriors White 13 (Maddy Bignell, Taylor Pearson 2; Sarah Polderman, Jasmine Disselbach) d Concordes United 8 (Rosie Clark 2; Sarah Thomson, Aimee Brooks, Bec White, Dianne Wilson, Jerri-Lee Cooper); Warriors White 9 (Sarah Polderman 2; Harlow Castleman, Em Hart) d Wanderers 5 (Fiona Finch, Lily Clifford-Finch 2; Emily Little, Leanne Little); Bandits 16 (Mel McCracken 4; Mackenzie Millard, Dana Jones, Montanna Millard 3; Di Horbury, Chantel Macdonald 2; Nat Whitehead, Kylie Cook) d Warriors Blue 6 (Maddy Bignell 2; Caroline Bradshaw, Renee Parker, Kelly Anderson)