Local softballers shine at Masters event

THE Mount Gambier Softball League had a successful weekend at the Riverland Masters Softball Carnival in Berri over the June Long Weekend.

Both teams had great carnivals, where they both finished in third place.

All players challenged themselves in cold conditions and gained valuable experience from playing in a competitive carnival.

There were plenty of standout performances and team highlights, but all players should be proud of the way they represented the league with good sportsmanship, integrity, and determination.

The Mount Gambier Softball League would like to thank our teams’ major sponsor for the carnival – BRC Trades Air and Electrical.

The trip was also made possible thanks to the amazing group of volunteers who helped before and during the carnival.Division 1 Team:

The Division 1 team showed plenty of pizzazz with the pitching and hitting of AJ Feast a standout, also hitting a homer against USC and you could not get the smile off of her face.

Rej Smith was another home run hero in the second final, while Aimee Brooks was robbed of hers by the outside diamond infinite dead ball line, and assistant coach Leanne Little performed a 8.75 forward roll in what would have been a stand up home run if her body wasn’t faster than her legs.

Feast’s partner in the battery, Rachel Bagshaw, lifted on the final day homering and not one to miss the action, Angela Queale absolutely smashed a strike on day one against Valley View that would most certainly have been over the fence at BLSP for a homer of her own, lifting the travelling Mount Gambier crowd off their feet in celebration.

Coach Leyna Bruggemann showed that practising can actually help one’s game as she hit all over the diamond in preparation for the masters national tournament in Sydney with a couple of doubles, triples and home runs.

Smith contained last year’s winners USC with her pitching, but her team’s fielding was a bit on the fritz which cost her the win and a top two finish.

Another consummate team player Little caught, played third and unfamiliar second, racking up RBIs as she does but earnt herself sun lasers into the retinas in the early Monday morning game so was sidelined with a migraine.

Deb Hicks came to her first aid rescue and was nearly in need of it herself as she copied some of her teammates’ habits of ignoring base coaches instructions and committed to the dive into third.

Hicks was out but not beaten, having had a fantastic weekend with the bat, growing in dominance in each game, as well as making some sharp pick ups at third.

Sonia Morris was unlucky with her line drive shots finding fielders gloves and Hayley Franklin was just as keen to get after the pitchers early in the count.

Marathon runner Caroline Bradshaw forgave her running to be there for the team in the sweltering one degree weather, cracking a great double against Port Adelaide scoring important runs.

She also was seen showing off her blue shirt, calling balls and strikes like the champion she is.

Brooks, Sarah Thomson and Fiona Finch were steadying in the outfield, making the plays that came their way and backing each other up to the hilt which was to the pride of the coaching staff.

They all contributed with the bat, pressured the opposition when base running, and showed why they were amongst the first to be selected in the team.

Other Berri highlights were Queale’s backup at right caught beautifully on the live stream, Thomson’s catches at right with the sun in her face as well as her cracking double off the genuine velocity pitching of Sunraysia, Bruggemann rolling the arm over for 3-0 pitching record, Finchy fielding with the kangaroos (that were taller than her), Hicks and Queale teaming for a double play in the first final, Smith and Finchy’s enthusiastic base running, and AJ and Deb’s hitting in the preliminary final where Mount Gambier ended up behind 5-7 against USC.

Thanks to team manager Jasmine Disselbach and scorers Di Humphries and Carol Whan.Division 2 Team:

The Mount Gambier Division 2 team did not disappoint; the girls stepped up and performed at their very best, making not only themselves proud but also the local league extremely proud.

Throughout the tournament, each player had standout plays, showcasing a good mix of competitiveness and fun times while playing the sport they love.

As coach Kylie Cook led by example, taking desperate dives in the field and smashing the ball in the batting box with her first-ever home run, followed by a second that soared over right field’s head, allowing Cook to jog home easily.

Similarly, with Chantel Macdonald stepping into the assistant coach leadership role, she also set an example by maintaining her composure on the pitching mound even when the pressure pot was intense, and consistently stepping up in the batting box, adding runs to the score and securing her own home run for the tournament as well.

The patience of Erin Chaplin was never in doubt, and who would have known that Chaplin had had a two-year break from the sport.

She stepped up to the pitching mound, patiently pushing through for those strikes, and when that ball was hot, it was piping hot.

Chaplin’s base running was impeccable, and some even suggested she was quicker than league legend, Division One coach Leyna Bruggeman.

The team’s final designated pitcher, Toni Waterhouse, was solid.

The coaching team trusted Waterhouse to bring home the goods wherever Waterhouse was positioned, and she didn’t disappoint.

Likewise, Kate Altschwager, who accepted the role of captain, was chosen for her knowledge of the game and consistent playmaking both on the diamond and in the batter’s box.

Altschwager’s impressive leadership skills confidently carried the mantle of captaincy and inspired the team to push through challenging moments.

Catchers Kelly Doyle, Linley Pollard and Julie Beck all held strong in their own rights while behind the plate.

Doyle, Pollard and Beck exhibited their agility and communication skills by demonstrating a remarkable ability to anticipate plays and consistently backing their pitcher with each pitch fired.

In the batting box, Doyle showed her experience and speed around the bases, while Pollard and Beck added to the home run tally.

While the solid Tammy Simpson seemed somewhat preoccupied with a swan on the hill, although when her mind was focused, it was clear to see that after nearly two decades away from the sport, the love was returning.

Veteran Linda Dodds is a player who constantly puts in full effort; this tournament was no different.

Despite the occasional self-doubt in her own abilities, Dodds was able to regain her focus after receiving a quick pep talk from coach Cook.

Dodds then continued to concentrate on the game and her performance.

Pauline Long, Natalie Whitehead, and Melissa McCracken, all new kids on the block, absolutely did not disappoint coaches Cook and Macdonald.

Long stepped up her thinking game by always being one step ahead, backing up every single play and having a crack in the batting box, seeking a personal best by spiralling the ball further than Long has ever tonked it before, scoring her a much-deserved three-bagger.

It was clear to see that Whitehead was on her learning path and was soaking it all in, but this did not keep her hidden from the limelight as she took two unbelievable, stretched-out speckies at second base.

McCracken had a crack at everything, as well as playing the consistency card, with standout statistics of 100 per cent for both batting and fielding—a remarkable effort on McCracken’s behalf, showcasing immense potential.

During the scheduled themed dress-up match, where the Division Two team dressed up as Smurfettes, there was a game changer: Kezia Feast took a break from umpiring to join in the fun to embody Poppa Smurf, adding a playful twist to proceedings.

However, it was questionable whether Feast was taking on Thomas the Tank rather than Poppa Smurf when the fielding player at first base received the ball on Feast’s run line after an unpredictable bunt; Feast ploughed through to gain the safe call at first.

Last but not least, a special mention for Simone Little. As Team Manager, Little’s quiet demeanour seamlessly coordinated behind the scenes, ensuring the coach remained focused and motivated throughout the tournament.

While the Division Two team did not emerge as the overall victorious winners, they did claim third position after a hard-fought final against Raptors, going down 3-5.