Demons clinch title in thriller

DEMONS have been crowned the Mount Gambier Softball League 2025/26 premiers with a one run victory over Bandits in a tense title decider at the weekend.

It was coach, and league president, Kezia Feast who scored the winning run, with player of the match Cody Manning (pictured above right) the player crossing the plate to secure victory.

It was just reward for a team that spent the vast majority of the season on top of the premiership standings and advanced to the grand final with a mercy rule semi final victory.

The high quality contest saw the match decided in the final innings and at times, extra innings looked inevitable, but in the end, Demons’ experienced campaigners led the side to victory.

Somewhat surprisingly, Demons started with Em Hart in the pitcher’s circle but despite Mackenzie Millard and Di Horbury securing hits, Bandits were held scoreless in the opening dig.

Hart and Manning combined for the first out, Bella Morale took an infield fly and Kezia Feast made the final out.

Bandits were just as clinical once out on the diamond with Horbury throwing out at first, Kelly Millard taking a good catch and Horbury again making the out.

The high standard of play continued with Simone Little taking a stunning catch off a great hit from Montanna Millard before Deb Hicks showed her good eye to earn a walk before Manning produced a superb double play – playing two herself before throwing Melissa McCracken out at first.

Back in the field, Bandits again refused to give up a score veterans Kelly Millard and Kylie Cook in the thick of the action making the outs, with Montanna Millard and Mackenzie Milalrd combining for the final out as no team even looked like hitting the scoreboard.

The flawless fielding continued as Hart continued to make life tough in the batting box for Bandits, with strong back up from her field, and the Demons also could not gain any momentum in the batting box as the match remained scoreless heading into the top of the fourth.

Hart continued to use her smarts with an eight pitch, three up, three down innings and while Demons started to get runners on base, Bandits stood firm and denied any opportunity to score heading into the top of the fifth.

Kezia Feast swung the changes, moving Manning into the pitcher’s circle, Hayley Burner out to centrefield, Hart behind the catcher’s mask, Meg Merrett to third and moved herself into shortstop.

Manning wasted no time in throwing strikes to the Bandits hitters with Hicks grounding out to Laube, repeated by McCracken and then Mitchell’s eyes lit up as she swung and missed a high pitch for her last strike.

It looked destined for another scoreless dig when Demons headed back to the batting box as Burner drilled one to Horbury, who remained composed and made the play for the first out and Macdonald caught Hart.

But the tide was about to turn as Little put one to left just out of Macdonald’s reach as Manning strode to the batting box, not disappointing with an RBI double.

Bandits answered on their next time at bat to tie up the scores.

Mackenzie Milalrd flew out again to ball magnet Laube, Lock was hit by a wayward Manning pitch, Horbury took the walk on four straight pitches before Cook sent a crisp single out to rookie Tieran Vos at right.

Kelly Millard dug exceptionally deep in a great at bat, crisply singling out to Vos again so Lock could easily score but there was an unfortunate base running error and Bandits went from one out with bases loaded to side away and only one run on the board.

With two down, Burner was unwilling to leave her team mates stranded on base and her double over Macdonald’s head scored two runs and a 3-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh.

Montanna Millard wasted no time, singling the first pitch of the innings out to Burner at centre and Hicks followed suit – both sneaking around and breaking the infield fly situation on a wild pitch.

Hart took a screamer foul fly off McCracken’s bat and Mitchell hit to the right side, scoring Montanna Millard when Laube made the play to first for the second out.

Mackenzie Millard then strode to the batting box and her triple scored Hicks and tied the scores up again and when Lock flew out to the safe glove of Merrett at third meaning Demons had to score to avoid an extra innings situation.

Manning led off with a single to Macdonald, Merrett took the count to 2-2 before singling to Lock and then Kezia Feast also held her nerve, taking the count to 2-2 before she saw a pitch she liked, landing one in front of Macdonald and sending Manning safely home for the walk off win.

It was a high quality final with Horbury, Mackenzie Milalrd and Montanna Millard the pick of the Bandits players, while Katelyn Laube shone bright for Demons with her six key plays in the field.

Hart’s effort both in the pitcher’s circle and as catcher, as well as her two safe hits, but as she so often is, Manning was her side’s best.

The grand final MCVP had three safehits, with two doubles and a single, an RBI and was the winning run, as well as her flawless performance in the field.

While there would be no premiership medal for Bandits sisters Montanna and Mackenzie Millard, they did take home league awards – Montanna as the Hood Family Under 25 Rising Star and Mackenzie honoured for her outstanding performance in the Country Championships taking home the Kath Sims Trophy for a second time as well as joint runner up for league MVP.

Bandits Kylie and Bruce Cook’s efforts were recognised with the Liz Robertson Volunteer Award as well as Kylie’s individual performance in Berri for the Division 2 team and Chrystal Lock winning the Pam Wesolowski best player for the Division 2 Country Championships.

RESULTS

Demons 4 (Cody Manning 3; Em Hart, Meg Merrett, Kezia Feast 2; Simone Little & Hayley Burner) d Bandits 3 (Mackenzie Millard 2; Di Horbury, Kylie Cook, Kelly Millard, Montana Millard, Deb Hicks, Emilee Mitchell)