Bruggemann leads Warriors to title

It started full of promise for minor premiers Demons as lead off batter Sarah McInerney made great contact with a safehit to centrefield, stealing second and then brought home by a stunning Cody Manning three bagger.

Then Meg Merrett brought Manning home with a strong piece to centrefield and the early signs were ominous for Warriors.

Things didn’t get much better in the batting box for Warriors as Demons defence held firm but things changed relatively quickly when Warriors got a rally going at the bottom of the second as big batting and a string of errors in the field saw the match start to turn.

Both Mel Chuck and Leyna Bruggemann were beneficiaries of fielding errors and then a smart sacrificial bunt saw Warriors runners in scoring positions.

Manning made the task a little easier, hitting both Kateesha Yates and Justine Koop with pitches and Warriors started to reel in Demons’ early lead as a couple of pass balls saw Warriors runners cross the home plate before Steph Chant took a good outfield catch from the bat of Angela Queale and the damage was limited three runs, giving the second semi final winners a won run lead.

That messy innings seemed to click Demons back into gear as Em Hart found space with a good drive down the third base line and then Manning again showed her class with her second three bagger to score McInerney to tie up the scores.

Demons coach Kezia Feast holed out to a good catch from Warriors short stop Sarah Polderman who covered serious ground to make the play before Merrett hit long to leftfield where a difficult chance was grassed and Manning was able to cross the plate and give Demons the lead before Chuck made the final play with a tag on the first baseline to give Warriors another chance to impress with the bat.

And impress they did – again with a combination of bit hitting and error-ridden fielding.

Polderman got things started with a safehit before a combination of walks and missed ground balls saw Warriors score four runs to take a 7-4 lead – a stunning catch at centrefield from Little ending the disastrous dig for Demons.

A late change in pitcher which saw Hart take to the mound, her change in pace bringing the Warriors bats undone.

Polderman again was the key in the field, backing up the accurate pitching from Bruggemann with another great running catch as Demons were unable to put a dent in Warriors’ three run lead.

The script remained the same when Demons returned to the field – Warriors had some big hitting, while errors allowed Warriors to continue to add to the scoreboard and by the end of the fourth innings the lead was six – 10-4.

Demons were not done with yet, though, and ye4t another safehit to Manning, who finished with four for the day, kickstarted Demons’ comeback, before Feast showed off her short game with a well placed bunt that not only advanced the runner but saw her arrive safely at first as well.

Bruggemann finally got the better of Merrett with a strike out but then a rare walk from the veteran pitcher saw bases loaded and it was Warriors turn to feel pressure in the field with a wild throw seeing two runs scored before Bruggemann regrouped and took matters into her own hands, finishing off the innings with two more strike outs, leaving the score at 10-7.

Bruggemann then decided to have an impact with the bat as well, making the most of runners on second and third with a stunning hit to leftfield that scored two runs to take the lead out to five runs before Manning finished the dig off with a strike out.

Bruggemann produced two strike outs of her own at the top of the sixth to ensure Demons were unable to work their way back into the contest before Warriors kept control of the contest, scoring two more runs and pushing out to a 14-7 lead which saw the match brought to a mercy rule end.

Bruggemann’s control from the mound and class with the bat earned her the player of the match, while Polderman and Queale were also key. Manning was outstanding with the bat for Demons.

Warriors 14 (Bruggemann 4; Polderman, Chuck, Hatch, McLean 2; Koop) d Demons 7 (Manning 4; McInerney, Feast, Merrett, Chant 2; Hart)