Reigning premiers get the job done

DEMONS v Concordes White

After a draw earlier in the season Concordes White and Demons were eager to see who would take away the win in Round 7.

White started off the on the bat and Alli Kreplins was patient at the plate and earnt herself a walk while Kate Altchswager, Kylie Doll and Amber Smith all landed safe hits getting them on base.

Demons defence worked hard with a caught fly at left for Steph Chant, and Kezia Feast at short stop before a play from Sofie Morale at second to first ended Whites first innings with four runs scored.

White were determined to keep Demons off the bases and did just that with a KC and K2 from pitcher Kreplins and an infield fly.

Cody Manning and Meg Merrett kept the team alive with safe hits to the outfield and Demons put one on the board.

Three runs down Demons needed to tighten their defence further to make up for their lack of runs in the first, and they did just that.

Three fly catches by defence Chant, Hart and Feast ended the White bat with five batters facing the plate.

Scoring no runs in the second White wanted to keep their three run lead.

They met the Demons defence with the same success and ended Demons offence in four batters with a fly catch from Melanie Smarling and Kate Altchswager and a play from Kreplins to first base.

Demons managed to get another one on the board and then in the third Karly Pearson and Lauren Lunsmann earnt their first safe hits for the game and managed to move Altschwager around the bases who landed on base from a walk.

White scored one and Demons knew they needed to make things happen at the plate to match their defence but to also make up the four runs White earnt in the first.

Manning started strong with a double to centre field and was able to score with Feast’s safe hit to third when an overthrow to first allowed Manning and Feast to gain an extra base with their nifty base running.

Chant worked hard at the plate and followed Manning’s move with a double to centre scoring Feast.

Morale adjusted to the strike zone and landed a safe hit to third. Demons scored three.

Going into the last innings both teams knew they had to do something special to take away the win, both teams had chipped away at runs all game but there was no clear winner in sight.

Kreplins was rewarded again with her discipline at the plate and earnt herself a walk.

Doll smacked a safe hit to right field, while Sam Brown found herself safe at first from an error in the field.

Kreplins scored home, and White had two on the bases with Smarling up to bat.

She hit a wonderful ball to centrefield but was met with the defence glove of Abbey Meinck.

White’s eager runners left their bases allowed Demons to take the out at second and first and Demons ended the innings with a triple play.

Demons needed two to win and Meinck led the team off with a safe hit to centre field.

Manning sent a blinder to centre, and the crowd thought it was headed for over the fence before White’s Keely Lunsmann came from no where and took a remarkable catch.

With a K2 and a hit back the the pitcher with an out at first, Demons scored one and White and Demons draw for the second time this season with a six-all score.

Wanderers v Millicent Bandits

This round saw Wanderers face off with Bandits for the second time and Bandits took the bat first with lead off Di Horbury sending seven fouls before finding Leanne Little’s glove at third and quick out at first setting the scene for the Wanderers field, with two more quick outs by Fiona Finch and Lily Clifford-Finch.

Wanderers’ bats fired from the start with Rej Smith sending one through the middle, with safe hits following to Lily Clifford Finch, Abbie Lovekin and Leanne Little.

Charli Kaigg brought scores herself a double whilst bringing home two runs for Wanderers.

Bandits’ Maddie Redman and Emilee Mitchell were placed on base by Smith on the mound when Chantel MacDonald sent one deep into centre field bringing home Redman, but a quick relay from Wanderers kept it at one run and leaving MacDonald at first.

The fielding form continued for Wanderers with a pop fly to Rej Smith catching Bandits runner off guard at first base and resulting in a double play.

MacDonald and Hicks worked hard on the mound but Wanderers continued to put pressure on the Bandits field with the bat and smart base running taking advantage of every opportunity to advance the play with Smith, Morris, L Little all picking up two safe hits and Clifford Finch, Lovekin, Kaigg and Emilee Little all one each.

Horbury and Hicks placed two more safe hits but it wasn’t enough either Wanderers taking a convincing win.

Concordes United v Warriors

Warriors were looking to consolidate their recently obtained position on the top of the ladder in the 3pm game but United had other ideas.

Dana Jones started the game pitching to fellow speedster Warriors Justine Koop who dropped a handy running bunt for a safe hit.

Bec White for United at third base was ready for Angela Queale’s left side hitting preference after Leyna Bruggemann’s agility completely failed her, getting plunked by a half volley from Jones.

Warriors base runners foxed with Sarah Thomson, daring a trap play off the team bat of Mel Chuck.

United bounced out scoring three via safe hits to Thomson, Julie Beck and the chirpy Jacinta Packer whose hit scored two.

United had Warriors under the pump with numerous base runners but the blue and white team played the lead runners, getting the outs despite a couple of iffy throws.

Warriors added one via a Jasmine Disselbach RBI, scoring Daena Wombwell who led off with a team at bat walk.

Teresa Hatch was on the mound for Warriors, finding her groove, facing four hitters for as many pitches including a shot lined by Billie Jones out to Linda Dodds at left who snagged a great catch.

Warriors added four by putting the ball in play and forcing some uncharacteristic errors by United and ball fours to Queale, Hatch and Disselbach.

Wombwell’s single scored one which got her proud grandparents to their feet.

Bruggemann got the homer signal from Sarah Polderman coaching at third with two out and loaded bases.

The old hat instead skied it to the safe glove of Tylar Kennett to end the innings.

Hatch’s pitching dominance continued for Warriors backed by Koop at centre making good ground to take a catch off United’s Aimee Brooks’ bat.

Hatch played the lead runner before finishing the innings with a K2.

Warriors then added another three with Jarvo perfectly placing a single in between three fielders before Chuck laid down a bunt and legged out the Codie Jackway throw.

Hatch singled scoring Queale but United had Chuck out at the plate with a pin point relay from Thomson.

Polderman came in for Haley Lindner and scooted around the bases including luring United into a trap play, just sneaking into home before the tag.

Bruggemann came into pitch and was jinxing United with off speed trickery.

Beck deciding it was easier to bunt with two strikes than risk another swinging strike but she bunted it to her nemesis who threw her out.

Dana Jones doubled and Billie was walked before Bruggemann struck out three of the next four hitters over the final two digs.

Harmony Kennett making good contact but was caught.

Koop added another hit to her healthy season tally, zinging one to right where Harmony Kennett had caught her out earlier in the game. Warriors were kept scoreless in the fifth by Billie’s pitching as were United and then it was time and game.

RESULTS:Demons 6 (Cody Manning 2; Kezia Feast, Meg Merrett, Abbey Meinck, Steph Chant, Sofie Morale) drew with Concordes White 6 (Kylie Doll 2; Kate Altschwager, Karly Pearson, Amber Smith, Lauren Lunsmann; Wanderers 16 (Rej Smith, Sonia Morris, Leanne Little 2; Lily Clifford-Finch, Abbie Lovekin, Charli Kaigg, Emily Little) d Millicent Bandits 1 (Di Horbury, Deb Hicks, Chantel Macdonald); Warriors 9 (Justine Koop 2; Ange Queale, Teresa Hatch, Daena Wombwell, Mel Chuck) d Concordes United 3 (Dana Jones 2; Sarah Thomson, Julie Beck, Jacinta Packer)