History making victory for premiers

Central demolish Tigers in grand final rematch

It was a bolt out of the blue for current premiers Central, in Friday night’s replay of last season’s Grand Final Series when they emphatically destroyed last season’s runners up Tigers.

In one of the largest margins recorded in A Grade, Major A and Division 1 baseball history Central inflicted the worst defeat between the two clubs since Tigers joined the competition in 1982.

The Central batters scored runs in every one of the six inning played before the mercy rule was called after two hours of play.

Five and six runs were scored from the two inning that Tigers pitcher Garth Ransom threw before he was replaced on the mound by Mitchell Thomson who gave up two, six, two and three runs in his four inning on the hill.

Six fielding errors did not help their cause along with the Magpies continually hitting the ball into play collecting 26 safehits along the way.

Central chucker Koby Chant pitched the perfect six dig game giving up zero hits and zero runs while the fielders backed him up with errorless baseball.

Tigers have lost quite a few of their players from last year’s grand final team and are going through a rebuild adding some of their talented juniors to the side.

They will need a little time to integrate these players into the team but with time on their side they will no doubt become a much more competitive outfit.

In atrocious conditions the Demons easily defeated a courageous Indians in Saturday’s last game of the day after the red and white’s failed to score a run.

Batting second in the first dig Federal scored one run after Riley Rolph singled to rightfield and was batted in by Matt Nicholls.

Not until the fourth inning did they score more. Leadoff batter Dean Searcy walked and scored on Alex Pearson’s double to rightfield followed by Riley Rolph who singled to leftfield.

Pitcher Alex Reppin stepped up to the plate and slammed the ball to centrefield for a home run also scoring the previous two runners.

Matt Nicholls was the fourth consecutive safe hitter knocking the ball into leftfield and scored on Roy Hutchesson’s deep hit to centrefield.

Single runs were scored in the next four innings with the last one scoring on a wild pitch giving the umpire the opportunity to call the game on a 10 run to nil mercy and allow all and sundry to come in out of the weather.

South tried hard all night but could not get wood on the ball as Reppin retired 10 of their batters with strike outs.

RESULTS

DIVISION 1

Central 24 (Colby Muller 5, Kyall McClean, Dylan Chuck, Alex Ridding, Koby Chant, Dylan Gull, Dave Harris 3, Nathan Meinck 2, Josh Chuck) d Tigers 0 Federal 10 (Alex Reppin 4 (HR), Riley Rolph, Dean Searcy 3, Matt Nicholls 2, Alex Pearson, Roy Hutchesson, Josh Wilsmore) d South Indians (Ryan Placucci, Blake McAdam)

DIVISION 2

Tigers 10 (Ben Merchant, Tom Wing, Will Merchant) d Central 3 (Coopper Smith, Brad Walkom, Daniel Kovaleff) Millicent 15 (Daniel Hateley, Nick Cory 2, Elijah Mutton, Darcy Pink, Anthony Mutton, Saxon Altschwager, David Langley, Michael Pink) d Federal 5 (Owen Wheatley, T. Morett)

DIVISION 3

South Indians 15 (Steve Lewis 3, Ken Rowe, Ben Deglaitis 2, James Parker, Kevin Joyce, Hadyn Timms, Darryn Cole, Cameron Beal) d Central Magpies 10 (Alan Couch, Tim Walkom 2, Andrew Hoath, Paul Klaassens, Zac Winkley) Millicent/Federal 16 (Daniel Hateley 4, John NcAdam, Michael Pink, Andrew Hughes, Huon ManningDate 2, Cameron Harris, Matthew McRostie, Xavier Player, Patricia Kelly) d Tigers 5 (Tim Queale, Marcus Thomson, Paul Falland, David White, John Verrity) Central 17 (Anthony Ridding 3, Dean Cutting, Lachlan Ridding, Chris Tzioutziouklaris, Josh Didsbury) d Naracoorte 10 (Brady Fox, Ashley Cross 2, Tom Paech, Destin Cornfield, Ryan Whitwell, Kynan Druitt, Dawson Fox)

BIG LEAGUE

Tigers 15 (Toby McKinnon, Harrison Elletson, Kaleb Kermond, Cooper Pitkin) d Federal 8 (Nash Lobley, Owen Wheatley, Liam McDonald 2, Dean Searcy, William Vincent) Central 3 (Daniel Ferguson, Jobe Harten, Jakob Walkom) d Tigers 1 (Jarvi Mee, Harrison Elletson, Kaleb Kermon)

South Indians 16 (Connor McDonald 2, Charlie Clark, Ryan Meek, Jett Lewis, Nate Habner, D. Harpham, Phoenix Cole) d Federal 10 (Dean Searcy, Elijah Mutton, Owen Wheatley, Ryan Fraser, Ebony Trussell)

JUNIOR LEAGUE

South Indians 5 (Linken Ratcliffe, Phoenix Cole, Amelia Ireland, Fynn Wheatley) d Tigers 4 (Atticus Mutton 2)

Central 15 (Kye Wren-Mitchell 2, Jacob Walkom) d Tigers 8 (Jaxy Johnston, Jett Lennon, Elsie Merchant, Floyd Guthridge)

LITTLE LEAGUE

Central 12 (Oliver June, Will Walkom, Kye Wren-Mitchell 2, Jobe Lynagh, Jack Odgers, Darcy Wurst, Angus Powell) d South Indians 1

MINOR LEAGUE

Tigers 9 d Federal 6

Looking for something to do next Friday night? Why not venture out to Blue Lake Sports Park and see some great local baseball under lights. Big League starts at 6 pm followed by Division 1 at 8pm on diamond 1. Canteen and Bar offer full catering. Anyone looking to play the game, contact Central, Federal Millicent, Naracoorte, South Indians or Tigers Baseball Clubs or make enquiries at the clubrooms on Friday night or Saturday. All welcome.