Grand final match ups set

BY WINNING their preliminary final against South Indians in Division 1 baseball on Saturday afternoon, Central Magpies have created history for the Mount Gambier & District Baseball League and the Central Baseball Club.

For the first time, two teams from the same club will compete for the premiership in the top grade of local baseball.

South were underway in the bottom of the first aided by a couple of errors from a nervous start by the Magpies.

Lead off batter Ben Nash picked a base on ball and was batted in by a sacrifice fly from Ryan Walter.

They added two more in the next dig when Travis Lockwood found himself at first from a wild throw and was batted in by Brent Masterman who scored from Ryan Placucci’s infield fielder’s choice as they raced to a three-nil lead.

In the top of the fourth suddenly everything clicked for the young Magpies as they put together four consecutive safe hits from Jake Turner and Cooper Smith, both batted in by Liam McDonald, a double to Jordan Carrison.

Josh Aston was hit by the pitcher, a single to Brad Lynagh scored McDonald and then a base on ball to Lauchie Tilley stacked the bases before a long hit to the leftfield fence by Justin Tzioutziouklaris scored Aston, Lynagh and Tilley.

Mitchell Cutting unleashed a three bagger to rightfield pushing Tzioutziouklaris home and finally Cutting crossed on an infield error before the Indians got their three outs – not before the Maggies had scored nine runs to take a firm grip on the game.

In the even dig South’s Brent Masterman hit safely and was batted in by Jett Lewis. The top of the fifth saw Central get that one back when Brad Lynagh hit safely to leftfield and touched home on Jordan Carrison’s crunch to rightfield.

Another in the top of the sixth as Cooper Smith hit safely for the second time and crossed home on Jordan Carrison’s single to rightfield with the lead blowing out to seven runs.

The Indians put pressure back on in the seventh scoring three as the Magpies started to look tired. Ryan Placucci picked a walk, Ryan Walter hit long to centerfield, Placucci crossed home plate on Bradley Meeks infield out, Liam Seager hit into an infield error scoring Walter and Brent Masterman batted in Seager.

They added a further run in the eighth to narrow the score difference to just three.

Ryan Placucci scored on a fielder’s choice after he found himself aboard from a hit pitched ball.

Central Magpies put the game to bed in the ninth.

Brad Lynagh at first after a wild throw, Lauchie Tilley on base from an infield error, Lynagh batted in by Justin Tzioutziouklaris’ single to rightfield, Mitchell Cutting’s hit into the infield created a wild throw which saw both Tilley and Tzioutziouklaris home and finally Cutting scored also on a wild throw from an infielder.

Central Magpies had 16 safe hits, 5 base on ball, 1 hit batter, 13 runs batted in, 7 strikeouts and made 6 errors. South Indians had 10 safe hits, 4 base on ball, 2 hit batters, 6 runs batted in, 2 strikeouts and made 7 errors.

DIVISION 2

In Division 2 Central would be disappointed with their loss to South Indians by just one run as they are the only team in the club to not make a grand final.

It was, however, South Indians day to shine as they scored five runs in each of the first two innings whilst Central could only score three and two.

Central added four runs to their scoreline in the next three digs but the Indians had scored one more in the fourth to keep the black and white from a finals spot.

South used two pitchers in Deegan Habner and Aaron O’Donnell to keep the Central batting lineup at bay, only allowing 11 safe hits while for Central, veteran pitcher Steve Kuhl saw out the whole game giving up 14 hits.

Both teams had multiple batters with two safe hits a piece.

BIG LEAGUE

Central snatched a win from the jaws of defeat from Tigers.

Tigers scored a solitary run in the second inning and held that lead for a further two innings when they added three runs to give them a four to nothing lead.

Three of their first four batters hit a single, a double and a triple to set up what looked like a winning score.

Not to be as Central through some timely hitting, a couple of surprising errors from a Tigers outfit that had played beautifully to that point.

A single error allowed the first two runs and a triple from Cooper Smith scored the second pair of runners to tie the game.

They scored the winning run in the sixth after the the first three batters were thrown base on balls with one being batted in to give them the lead.

Central managed to shut down the Tigers lineup to give themselves a shot at premiership glory against South Indians.

Both teams used two pitchers, Central Bree Ridding and Cooper Smith while Tigers used Cameron Scott and Wil Merchant. Tigers had nine safe hits to Central’s five.

JUNIOR LEAGUE

Tigers marched into next weekend’s grand final thanks to a five run to one defeat of the South/ Federal combine.

The game was littered with strikeouts and base on balls with Tigers able to take the most advantage to get their runs on the board and a look at a premiership next Saturday.

Both teams used two pitchers and Tigers had three safe hits whilst South/Federal had two.

LITTLE LEAGUE

Federal found their way into next Saturday’s final thanks to a four run to three win over South Indians.

It was nip and tuck all day with Federal scoring two in the bottom of the third, south two in the top of the fourth, one in the top of the top of the fifth but Federal finally nailed the game scoring two in the bottom of the fifth.

Both teams used three pitchers with two in each pitching their quota.

MINOR LEAGUE

In the Minor League, baseball’s nursery, Tigers Black was far too strong for sister team Tigers.

It is here that if thrown four balls a batter then hits the ball into play from a tee.

Tigers Black took full advantage of this skill scoring nine runs in the first two innings, whilst Tigers scored three in the bottom of the fourth.

Pitching was still at a premium from both teams with the three Tigers Black pitchers picking up nine strikeouts and Tigers seven.

PRELIMINARY FINALS

DIVISION 1

Central Magpies 15 (Mitchell Cutting 4, Justin Tzioutziouklaris 3, Brad Lynagh, Jake Turner, Jordan Carrison, Cooper Smith 2, Chris Roberts) d South Indians 8 (Brent Masterman 3, Ryan Walter 2, Ben Naash, Jett Lewis, Travis Lockwood, Phoenix Cole, Bradley Meek)

DIVISION 2

South Indians 11 (Darryn Cole, Deegan Habner, Jason Henke, Steve Lewis, Aaron O’Donnell 2

Damien O’Dine, Haydn Timms, Ben Deglaitis, Kevin Joyce) d Central 10 (Anthony Ridding, Dean Cutting, Alby Richardson 2, Ben Green, Shane Frankenburg, David Chuck)

BIG LEAGUE

Central 5 (Jobe Lynagh, Cooper Smith, Daniel Ferguson, Harrison Elletson, Kye Wren-Mitchell) d Tigers 4 (Toby McKinnon, Cameron Scott, Cooper Pitkin, Wil Merchant 2, Owen Wheatley)

JUNIOR LEAGUE

Tigers 5 (Sam Marcus 2, Attticus Mutton) d South/Federal 1 (Jett Roberts, Seth Devlin)

LITTLE LEAGUE

Federal 4 (Banjo Annon 2, Tyekon Kelly, Angus Robinson) d South Indians 3 (Elijah Plunkett, Hayden Howley)

MINOR LEAGUE

Tigers Black 9 d Tigers 3