Central survives scare from improving South

Tigers bounce back with dominant victory

The red hot Central took on South in a Friday night blockbuster under lights at Blue Lake Sports Park. With South starting to challenge the top sides this shaped as a danger game for Central so coach Dylan Gull took the mound to get his side going. It would be a battle of the coaches on the hill with Ryan Placcuci doing the honours for South.

South started with a bang in the first innings and with hits and number of walks the Indians took a seven run first innings and looked to have a shell shocked Central on the ropes and in trouble after just one innings.

Central responded like all good teams do, bur still trailed by four at the break.

Central scored two more over the next couple innings and South could only manage one more before time eluded the game was called. South falling agonisingly close but Central just too good in the end. Central finished the game with 16 safe hits to just six and move another two points clear on top of the ladder. A sunny Saturday afternoon saw Federals aiming for a breakthrough maiden victory against a hit and cold tigers.

Tigers coming off a big loss the week before to Central needed to fire and get a win to stay close to Central a top the table.

Tigers made a big statement with the coach Karl Ransom benching himself after a poor outing the previous week and Patrick Kermond and Harrison Elletson getting the call up.

Tigers started well with plenty of bat on ball contact but just no runs to show for the first innings.

Federals were up for a hard task facing former player Alex Reppin who was on song on the hill picking up 11 strike outs and keeping a clean sheet in the scoreboard.

The game was all Tigers after the first innings, with big numbers of hit and big numbers crossing the plate.

Tigers bringing home fifteen runs and getting the win made all the sweeter for Joe Sims in his 250th game for Tigers.

Tigers picked up 15 hits to just three for the night. Federals star Alex Pearson was best for Federals with two hits whilst it was Alex Reppin for Tigers with four hits, and Jake Powell with five runs battered in that helped Tigers cruise back to second spot in the standings.

RESULTS DIVISION 1

Tigers 15 (A.Reppin 4; J.Foster, J.Powell, M.Thompson, G.Ransom, P.Kermond 2; T.Horrigan) d Federals 0 (A.Pearson 2; N.Lobley);

Central 11 (M.Cutting 3; N. Meinck, D.Chuck, D.Gull, K.Chant, S.Shaw 2; K.McLean) d South 8 (B.Nash, R.Walter 2; T.Lockwood, R.Placcuci)

DIVISION 2

Central 14 d Naracoorte 8

Millicent 5 drew with Tigers 5

DIVISION 3

Tigers 26 d Central Magpies 4

Central 18 d Federals 5

BIG LEAGUE (UNDER 18)

South 10 d Tigers 7

UNDER 15

Central 12 d South 5

South 7 d Tigers 5

UNDER 13 GOLD

Central 7 d Tigers 5

UNDER 13 BLUE

Central 9 d Tigers 2

BIG BATTING: (Above top) Dylan Chuck has carried over his good form from last season; (top left) Nathan Meinck has been reliable in the batting box & (bottom left) Jesse Foster is another batter in form.