Finals only a fortnight away

February 23, 2024 BY

With Millicent Bandits improving each week and after a loss the previous week United knew they had some work to do at the weekend to ensure they could come away with a win.

A hot start to the bat for United’s Codie Jackway with a line drive to leftfield and coming away with a home run for her first at bat.

Leonie Mcallum with a beautiful hit to centre to get herself on and with a few errors from Bandits she was able to score home.

Bandits fought back in the field with some tight pitching from Chantel McDonald getting herself some strike outs ending the first innings for United.

Tilly Dohnt picked a walk and got herself on base to start the innings for bandits but United tight fielding and great choice making ending the first bat for Bandits quickly.

Rebecca White got herself on base for United in the second innings to start the run. Safe hits from Dianne Wilson and Julie Beck allowed White to score, Jackway back up to bat got herself on base while also scoring Wilson and Beck.

Tylar Kennett with and RBI allowed Jackway to score home, Bandits fill in player Sarah Polderman at shortstop with her power arm was able to get the outs they needed ending the innings for United and the score 6-0.

Bandits didn’t let this stop them, McDonald with a beautiful safe to right. Lucy Galpin with a big hit to leftfield scored McDonald and Maddi Redman who has been hot with the bat the last few weeks hit a killer to centre scoring Galpin.

United fought back In the field and with some great pitching from Dana Jones and backed up by her team they were able to get some quick outs to end Bandits inning.

Back to the top of the line up for United, Jackway picked a cheeky walk and got herself to first, that’s when the hits started to come, Kennett with a safe hit to second ran hard and got herself on, all while sneaky Jackway stole the bases crossing home plate.

Jones then with a double to leftfield was about to move McCallum around to third and get herself to second. Allana Feast was next up ready for the right pitch and smacked another double to leftfield scoring McCallum and Jones.

Bandits fought back hard in the forth with some great at bats and safe hits to Natalie Whitehead and another to McDonald but Feast at short stop for united wasn’t letting anything go past and made sure they were able to secure the three outs they needed to head into the 5th innings.

Bandits made a pitching change in the 5th putting in the all rounder Chrystal Lock.

Wilson started off with the bat for United and with some quick running and a little error from bandits she was able to get herself safe on first.

Speedy Wilson thought she was quick enough and stole to second but Redman behind the plate picked her off with a brilliant throw getting the first out.

Jackway back at the plate again picked a walk to get herself on, some more strong batting from United loaded the bases for Sarah Thomson come up to bat, waiting for the right one she hit a big one to rightfield and was able to score Kennett, McCallum and Jones but with beautiful fielding from Bandits they were able to make the play at home getting Thomson out but not before she score all three runs.

Bandits come out hot in the last innings, looking sharp with the bat Mcdonald and Redman for both their third safe hits for the game got themselves on base, Jones fought back hard the next batter with a strike out, another hit to Feast at short stop saw her throw to first for the second out and her 7th out for the game.

A quick pick up by Jones at the mound to throw to first for the last out saw United come away with the win 14- 6.

In the other 1pm games, Concordes White started in the field with Alli Kreplins on the mound and she made her presence felt right from the start with a strike out to Fiona Finch.

Lily Clifford-Finch made it safely on base due to a fielding error, but was soon called out running to second for hesitation by the plate umpire.

Leanne Little found the middle of the bat with a safe hit to centerfield, but was left stranded on base as Charlie Kaigg was struck out by the on fire Kreplins for the third out.

Sam Brown led off for White with a well watched walk, followed by Kreplins who did the same.

Maddie Bowd forced the error from shortstop, advancing to second and scoring two runs.

Kate Altschwager took first after being hit by a pitched ball and sister duo Keely and Lauren Lunsmann both picked walks.

Amber Smith went down swinging before Mel Smaling drove the ball to centerfield to score three runs before Lauren had a rush of blood and ran to third where she was put out to end the innings with White scoring five runs.

At the top of the second, Abbie Lovekin drove the ball hard to third forcing an error in the White field and Tracey Anderson picked a walk to advance Lovekin.

Kreplins came back to strike out Jess Ghezzi and Altschwager threw out her glove in what looked like slow motion to take a ripping catch at one and then recovered to make the play herself at one for the double play to end the innings.

Sam Brown again opened the innings, but flied out to the ever-reliable Finch at leftfield who took an on the run catch for the first out.

Kreplins again picked a walk and Aleesha Tucker hit the ball to third and safely made first after a wild throw.

Bowd hit a well-executed shot to rightfield scoring both Kreplins and Tucker.

Altschwager also picked a walk to advance Bowd. Lunsmann the Keely variety flied out and Lunsmann the Lauren variety advanced after being hit by a pitched ball.

Smith hit the ball to first base but was put out for the third out. Concordes adding a further two runs to their tally.

Emily Little flied out to short stop for the first out of the third, then Finch had a safe hit to centerfield. Clifford-Finch forced an error to advance Finch, then Leanne Little again hit safely to what seemed the spot of the day centerfield to score Finch.

Kreplins then came back to strike out Kaigg for the second time today, but Lovekin made sure the batting run continued with a safe hit to shortstop that scored Clifford-Finch.

Anderson hit to centerfield, but an outfield error saw Wanderers score two runs.

Ghezzi was then put out from a good pick up and throw from short stop Lauren Lunsmann to conclude the innings.

Wanderers opened their scoring account with four runs and the game had tightened up.

The bottom of the third was short and sweet for Concordes as Wanderers took control.

Smaling flied out to the pitcher for the first out, Brown was tagged out by the pitcher.

Kreplins picked her third walk of the game, before Tucker flied out to short stop.

In the final innings of the game Concordes needed to step up and put the pressure on Wanderers. Kreplins continued her fine form on the mound with a strike out to Edie Jones.

Emily Little advanced after being hit by a pitched ball and the consistent Finch hit safely to rightfield.

Clifford-Finch then also had a safe hit scoring both Little and Finch.

Leanne Little scored the third run for the innings forcing an error from White’s shortstop and the next two batters Kaigg and Lovekin being caught out to end the innings. Wanderers adding a further three runs to their tally and the score seven all.

It came down to the final innings for White and Bowd continued her strong batting with a two bagger to that game hitting spot of the day centerfield and Altschwager advanced on a walk.

Lunsmann the Keely variety had a solid shot to centerfield that scored Bowd. Lunsmann the Lauren variety flied out for the first out.

Rookie Smith had a sensational shot to centerfield and Smaling picked a walk advancing Altschwager, as did Brown.

Lovekin, who had worked hard all game on the mound, came back strongly striking out Kreplins for the second out.

Tucker continued the trend also picking a walk.

Bowd again came to the plate and drove the ball to centrefield forcing an error.

Altschwager finally got a safe hit for the game and Lunsmann the Keely variety forced an infield error to advance to one and score Bowd. Lunsmann the Lauren variety was struck out to end the game with Concordes White scoring their fourth win of the season.

This is their second in a row giving the team momentum in the last part of the season.

In the showdown of bragging rights for one and two on the ladder and one win for each team under their belts Demons and Warriors were both eager to come away with the win.

Demons started the first innings at the plate and were determined to not leave their Demons batting till the 11th hour like the previous week’s game against Wanderers.

The girls were disciplined at the bat and took the walks when they were offered.

Cody Manning and Steph Chant scored safe hits and all nine batters saw the plate during the first dig which left Demons with five runs scored.

Coach Leyna Bruggemann started Warriors off strong with a ripper drive to centre field followed by a double bagger from Mel Chuck.

Demons pitcher Manning making it hard for Warriors to get on with two K2s and a relay play for a tagged out at third to bring Warriors batting the halt and only allowing two runs on the board.

After momentum from the first Demons came out swinging again in the second facing Warriors pitcher Sarah Polderman, who was solid during her pitching dig.

Safehits from Feast, Hart, Merrett and Jones left runners on bases for most of the innings. The girls were smart with their base running, stealing seven bases during the innings and allowing them to match their first dig with another fiveruns.

Warriors were unable to get on base in the second after a K2, a fly catch from SS and a 3rd to 1st out. Leaving their score at two.

Innings three and four were much the same. Demons working on holding their lead and Warriors trying to get runners on base including a left handed slap bunt from Bruggemann.

However, Demons proved to be the stronger team on the day, leaving them in top position on the ladder going into the last two rounds before finals.