No title but plenty of individual highlights

THE Mount Gambier Softball Leagues representative teams showcased their skills over the Australia Day Long Weekend at the Softball SA Country Championships, both teams qualifying for finals in what was blistering heat.

The A Grade and B1 teams both lost their qualifying finals denying them a shot at the title.

Although the teams did not come away with the flag, there was plenty of high-level softball played and some standout individual performances, in what was the 70th annivesary of the annual championships.

The weekend also included a Home Run Derby and an Allstar Showcase Game.

The Home Run Derby was taken out by Mount Gambier A Grade player Cody Manning, making it back-to-back titles for Manning and her fourth overall title.

The Allstar Showcase Game featured some of Sotuh Australia’s best players from the Adelaide Premier League competition.

Dana Jones and Meg Merrett were selected to compete in the showcase match and loved the opportunity to play amongst the state’s best players.

On the final day of competition, Manning and Sarah Polderman were selected in the A Grade Team of the Carnival.

Manning was selected as shortstop, with Polderman selected for right field.A GRADE REPORT:

Although not coming home with the title, coaches Tanya Hood and Kelly Millard were bursting with pride with the effort their side put in at West Beach.

After eight games in the first two days with a win-loss record of 5-3, including four wins on the trot on the second day, the Mount Gambier A Grade side lost their elimination semi final to a strong Port Pirie contingent 6-4 on the third and final day.

Sam Burt’s Port Pirie team then went on to beat the fancied CDSA side in the grand final, taking the game to two extra tie break innings and both those sides deservedly well represented in the tournament team.

Polderman was outstanding with both bat and glove, clocking up the steps backing up everything at left and right field, showing her versatility in pitching, playing shortstop and a guest appearance at second base, as well as smashing line drives and regularly getting on base.

Manning was back to herself in the hitter box, including a near dinger against CDSA’s over 35 SA pitcher in a dominant display by the Mount Gambier crew.

Manning had all teams’ eyebrows raised with serious awe as she threw in her rockets on a few relays.

It was often Mackenzie Millard on the tagging end of these relays as she powered through the heat in catching many the team’s games.

Millard was also integral to the team’s run scoring machine with her hitting form in the regular season more than continuing at Barrett Reserve.

Millard, Dana Jones and Leyna Bruggemann shouldered most of the pitching duties with stoicism considering the conditions.

Montanna got the scorer’s green pen going with cracking shots to centre-right and loomed at third.

Jones was consistent in the circle and pressured defensive sides with her speed including in one of several well executed trap plays for the weekend.

Codie Jackway was another who shook off the heat and donned the catching gear, working well with and supporting the hilt.

Abbie Frankenburg ended up backing up every play on the right field and throwing in her zingers.

Meg Merrett’s own zingers were tempered as she made second base her own.

Merrett’s attitude was good as she made great plays look routine.

Lily Clifford-Finch stole bases to her name and covered huge ground in the outfield while also running the bases as a temporary runner for the battery.

Bruggemann bluffed hitters with her off speed pitching, limiting their scoring in most bar the first innings she pitched for the tournament and putting some reasonable bat on ball.

Mel Chuck took her chances in the batter’s box and Aimee Brooks and Deb Hicks were amongst the team’s best hitters for the weekend.

Brooks was at home in the outfield, showing off her drop step and safe glove, clinically hitting her cut off as well.

Hicks relished the quicker paced pitching, regularly smashing the ball to all parts of the diamond, even to the right side, with at least two triples.

Merrett and Jones proudly represented Mount Gambier in the exhibition game, rubbing shoulders with the former Olympian Belinda White as they matched up against current Aussie Spirit squad members including Mount Gambier’s Amber Hood, who made her debut recently for the green and gold in front of her super proud family.B1 REPORT:

The B1 women’s softball team returned from the Country Championships with plenty to be proud of.

Player efforts were rewarded with a place in the qualifying final, where they met a strong Hills side.

While the result did not fall their way, the performance reflected the growth and connection the team had built over the last few months, with effort and commitment evident until the final out.