Central & Tigers continue to dominate

Last Friday night’s Division1 baseball game at Blue Lake Sports Park got under way under a clear night sky and bright lights in a David versus Goliath battle between Federal and Central.

Unfortunately for Federal this time David did not prevail as Central held the high ground over seven innings.

Alex Reppin hit the only safehit for Federal in the top of the first and were totally outclassed for the rest of the night.

The Magpies scored two in the even dig. Consecutive safehits to centrefield by Nathan Meinck and Dylan Chuck saw them both batted in by lefty Dave Harris’ pull shot to rightfield.

Three more in the second as lead off batter Colby Muller hit safely to leftfield and then the Federal pitcher gave up back to back walks to Bree Ridding and Kyall McClean.

Muller scored on Nathan Meinck’s hit into an infield error which also saw Ridding add to the score. McClean crossed the plate on a wild pitch before Federal were able to shut down the inning.

McClean led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to rightfield and further indiscretions from the Demons pitching staff caused more pressure when Nathan Meinck was hit by a pitched ball and Dylan Chuck drew a base on ball.

McClean scored on a passed ball and Koby Chant’s deep hit to centrefield scored Meinck and Chuck.

In the bottom of the sixth the mercy rule came into play as Central went further ahead.

Alex Ridding picked a walk and Dave Harris hit safely to rightfield again, then Colby Muller was hit by the pitcher loading the bases.

Josh Chuck drove the ball back through the pitcher to centrefield to score both Ridding and Harris to give Central the 10 run mercy rule break.

Icing on the cake was Muller scoring on Jobe Harten’s sacrifice fly to centrefield and the cherry on top was Nathan Meinck batting in Chuck.

Federal could not get the game into extra inning as they went three up three down in the seventh.

Central had 10 safehits for nine runs batted in, six base on ball, three hit batters, four strikeouts and made one error. Federal had one safehit, one base on ball, 11 strikeouts and made four errors.

Tigers batted first in the twilight Division 1 baseball game on Saturday getting away to a solid start to put immediate pressure on the young South Indians side.

Lead off batter Ben Marcus singled to centrefield, Mitchell Thomson hit into an infield error followed soon after by Karl Ransom’s infield hit that drew a wild throw which scored Marcus.

Matt Thompson’s safety to centrefield batted in Mitchell Thomson, Jai Hillstone’s sacrifice fly scored Ransom and Matt Thompson scored on Jake Powell’s double to rightfield.

It took until the bottom of the fourth for the Indians to get on the scoreboard. With two out Jesse Balshaw singled and Travis Lockwood doubled.

Ryan Walter’s long hit to leftfield saw both of those runners cross the homeplate and Tigers led four runs to two. The orange and black got those two runs back in their very next at bat.

Mitchell Thomson again on board this time from a fielder’s choice and Matt Thompson with his second hit for the game also on base. They both scored on Jai Hillstone’s late hit out to rightfield. In the top of the eighth Tigers added three more.

Jake Powell hit safely toward third base and he was subsequently batted in by Harrison Elletson who hit a two-bagger to centrefield.

Mitchell Thomson’s double to leftfield batted in Elletson. Tigers now had a handle on the game leading nine runs two. But the red and white were not done yet. Ben Nash found himself at second base after his hit to shortstop resulted in a wild throw.

Ryan Placucci hit into an error at third base which pushed Nash home and Placucci was batted in by Tarkyn Morale.

In the final inning Matt Thompson’s two-bagger to centrefield was his fourth safehit of the game and he pulled up at second. Jai Hillstone hit long and high to rightfield which was ultimately grassed.

Thompson scored when Jake Powell hit into a fielder’s choice and Hillstone followed soon after when he was interfered by the catcher.

South clawed one back in their final at bat. Youngster Riley Parsons hit safely to second base and was batted in by Ben Nash’s safehit to leftfield.

Tigers had 14 safehits for nine runs batted in, six strikeouts and made six errors. South had seven safehits for four runs batted in, one base on ball, seven strikeouts and made four errors.

RESULTS

• DIVISION 1
  • Central 14 (Nathan Meinck, Dave Harris, Colby Muller 2, Kyall McClean, Dylan Chuck, Koby Chant, Josh Chuck) d Federal 0 (Alex Reppin); Tigers 11 I(Matt Thompson 4, Jake Powell 3, Ben Marcus, Jake England 2, Mitchell Thomson, Jai Hillstone, Harrison Elletson) d South Indians 5 (Ryan Walter 2, Riley Parsons, Ben Nash, Jesse Balshaw, Travis Lockwood, Tarkyn Morale)
• DIVISION 2
  • Central 11 (Alex Ridding, Koby Chant 3, Sam Ruwoldt, Daniel Ferguson, Justin Tzioutziouklaris, Jobe Harten) d Tigers 1 (Tom Wing 2, Ben Merchant); Millicent 17 (Daniel Hateley 4, Nick Cory, Darcy Pink, Anthony Mutton, Saxon Altschwager, Phil Altschwager 2, Tom Winkley, Gage Morley) d Federal 3 (Dean Searcy, Owen Wheatley, Tom Sutt, Michael Kreplins)
• DIVISION 3
  • South Indians 9 (Haydn Timms, Jason Henke 2, James Parker, Kevin Joyce) d Central Magpies 8 (Daniel Kovaleff, Andrew Hoath 2, Alan Crouch, Zac Winkler, Brett Stephenson, Bill Stephenson); Central d Naracoorte (no details available)
• BIG LEAGUE
  • Central 23 (Brad Walkom, Justin Tzioutziouklaris, Daniel Ferguson, Mitchell Ruwoldt, Jobe Harten, Brodie Berkefeld) d Federal 2 (Nash Lobley, Will Vincent); South Indians 12 (Charlie Clark, Riley Parsons, Connor McDonald, Oliver Plunkett, S. Cole) d Tigers 3 (Flynn Hillstone, Kobe Stratman)
• JUNIOR LEAGUE
  • Tigers 6 (Atticus Mutton, Ben Reichelt 3, Joe Box 2, Sam Marcus, Elsie Merchant, Jesse DeKoning) d Central 3 (Jakob Walkom 2, Darcy Wurst, Connor Ruwoldt, Angus Powell, Aiden Meinck, Riley Hopgood, Harvey Dowdell); Tigers 13 (Titan Dumigan, Joe Box 2) d South/Federal (Phoenix Cole 2, Louie Vincent)
• LITTLE LEAGUE
  • Central 15 (William Walkom 3, Oliver June, Connor Ruwoldt 2, Jack Odgers) d South Indians 0;
  • Tigers/ Federal 12 (Jack Freckleton 3, Oliver Bramley 2, Ashleigh Elletson, Hunter Wyatt, Dylan Simpson, Harrison Freckleton, Tahj Pitkin) d South Indians 1 (Draven Allyn)
• MINOR LEAGUE
  • Federal 15 (Angus Robinson, Rowan Bramley, Izak Pearce, Blade Tyers) d Tigers 5 (Rowan Patzel, Chase Noonan, Alfie Merchant 2, Nathaniel Elletson, Hayden Bowley, Tom Wright, Phoebe Biggin)