Sister teams play out exciting draw

BANDITS V WANDERERS

In a strong showing on Friday evening at Blue Lake Sports Park, Bandits produced a confident all-round performance to claim an eight run victory over Wanderers.

Bandits started sharply in the box, with consistent batting right through the order.

Mackenzie Millard set the tone early, reaching safely and later scoring, while Di Horbury and Mel McCracken, Montanna Millard and Nat Whitehead continued to put the pressure on Wanderers’ pitcher patiently waited for the right ball to come.

After a bit of confusion, the innings was over, and Bandits were able to put three runs on the board.

Montanna Millard kept Wanderers batters under check, only allowing one safe hit to Lily Clifford-Finch in the first two innings, forcing them back out to the field scoreless.

The second innings saw safe hits from Di Horbury, Chrystal Lock and Mackenzie Millard and some aggressive base running from the Bandits team; they were able to cross the plate nine times before retiring to the dugout.

With a switch up on the Bandits pitching mound, Mackenzie Millard was given the task to finish off the game.

Wanderers weren’t giving up just yet and with safe hits to Fiona Finch, Sonia Morris and Leanne Little they were able to get loaded bases and score four runs for the innings.

With the final at bat for Bandits, Deb Hicks was the only one to secure a safe hit before Wanderers fielding stepped up with a double play and a third out to finish off the match.

CONCORDES WHITE V BANDITS

Bandits delivered a dominant performance to secure a 13–1 victory over Concordes White in their second game for the weekend.

Bandits wasted no time setting the tone, building pressure early through disciplined at-bats and strong baserunning. Mackenzie Millard and Di Horbury were instrumental at the top of the order.

While Mel McCracken and Deb Hicks continued the momentum with consistent contact.

Timely hits from Montanna Millard, Nat Whitehead, and Kylie Cook saw the Bandits steadily extend their lead across the middle innings.

Defensively, the Bandits were sharp and composed, backing up their pitching with clean fielding and well-executed outs across the diamond.

Chantel Macdonald and Chrystal Lock contributed important defensive efforts to keep Concordes White to minimal scoring opportunities.

Concordes White showed determination throughout the contest, with Sam Brown and Kate Altschwager working hard in the box, while Dana Jones and Sarah Baird provided solid defensive plays.

A late run gave Concordes White something to show for their efforts, but Bandits’ control of the game never waivered.

A strong all-round team performance capped off a convincing win for Bandits.

CONCORDES UNITED V DEMONS

Demons faced Concordes United for the second time this season – the only team so far this year to defeat the Dees.

Demons started at the plate with batters Em Hart and Meg Merrett seeing a lot of pitches and earning themselves walks. United’s Rosie Clark worked hard to get their first two outs from a fly catch and an assisted out to first.

Krissie Smith, Em Hart, Meg Merrett and Simone Little all got safe hits in the first and Demons put eight on the board.

United started off strong with two consistent batters in Rosie Clark and Sarah Thomson both hitting safe to centre, with Thomson getting a three-bagger.

Unfortunately the red and blue were too strong in the defence and United did not score.

In the second, Cody Manning made light work of the bat with her first home run for the game. Morale and Merrett had safe hits to the outfield.

United’s Bec White pitched her first K2 for the game, working hard on the mound. Dee’s added another four to their score.

Tylar Kennett and Linley Pollard both had safe hits in the outfield and Demons pitcher debut Meg Merrett also got her first K2 for the game with United scoring two.

In the last inning Demons stayed consistent putting another seven runs in with safe hits from Merrett, Little, Disselbach and a second home run from Manning.

Concordes scored another three with a final score of 19-5.

WARRIORS WHITE V WARRIORS BLUE

Warriors White are rocketing up the ladder with a come from well behind draw against their sister side in Warriors Blue, showing their grit and team cohesion is coming together towards the right end of the season.

Sarah Polderman was in top form from the get go, taking a come backer line drive off Taylor Pearson’s bat for the first out.

Polderman clearly breathed a sigh of relief as Pearson’s shot had genuine velocity straight into her trusty glove.

Strikes were a plenty and Leyna Bruggemann (pictured), Angela Queale and Caroline Bradshaw got the scorer’s green pen going and three runs for Blue before White added two of their own.

White’s lead off Polderman waited for her pitch and drilled one out to Kloe Phillips at left, Linda Dodds hit one straight to Haley Lindner at second, and then Kel Doyle hit one just out of the reach that Lindner calmly collected.

Chant skied one to Bruggemann and Mel Chuck was bamboozled on a knuckle ball as was Maddy Bignell behind the plate and Chuck found herself at second on the same pitch.

Jasmine Disselbach wore a 0-2 pitch to the not-funny bone before Hannah Taylor got another safe hit for a RBI.

Blue then piled on nine as Polderman’s radar went a bit on the fritz, walking six but she dug deep, striking out two including the hot bat of Kelly Anderson, and making the last out, throwing over to Chuck at first.

Analeigh Anderson had a nifty lead off at bat, taking the full count walk, Tash Vickers hit a fabulous shot out to Harlow Castleman at right who zinged in the throw and saved a run.

Pearson forced an error, Bignell walked and after some dubious swings, Bruggemann sent one to centre right for a three run triple.

Queale RBI singled again to first time Warrior Alana Romaine at centre, Bradshaw, Lindner and Analeigh walked before Pearson singled for another RBI showing enviable consistency this season.

Bignell walked again and Bruggemann knobbed one to Disselbach at shortstop who was still nursing her injured wing so worried a misfield out of the champ who was playing her second game for the day before the last out.

Romaine hit one back to Bruggemann who continues to maintain her clean sheet throwing to Pearson at first.

It was a bit downhill from there for Blues as White forced six errors with 10 runs and a million safe hits.

Dodds lined a sweet shot out to Maddy Sutherland now at left, Bradshaw made a great play to have Chant out, and Chuck showed her wheels with an infield RBI single.

Disselbach beautifully singled to Analeigh Anderson at centre and Taylor again made solid contact sending one to left and just out of the reach of Sutherland charging in.

Game fave Castleman put Bradshaw under pressure at shortstop as did Romaine, who took advantage of her strike.

Polderman decided not to muck around as she crisply doubled off the first strike she saw and Dodds spun one in front of the plate and was safe at first on the shot having had some strong swings prior.

Doyle forced an error and it was Chant that hit the walk off double to max out her side’s runs potential.

RESULTS

Bandits 12 (Mackenzie Millard 2; Di Horbury, Deb Hicks, Chrystal Lock) d Wanderers 4 (Lily Clifford-Finch, Fiona Finch, Sonia Morris, Leanne Little, Emily Little); Bandits 13 (Deb Hicks 4; Mackenzie Millard, Di Horbury 3; Mel McCracken, Montanna Millard, Nat Whitehead, Kylie Cook, Chantel Macdonald 2) d Concordes White 1 (Sam Brown, Dana Jones, Sonya Crute); Demons 19 (Meg Merrett 3; Cody Manning (2HR), Simone Little, Katelyn Laube 2; Bella Morale, Em Hart, Krissie Smith, Jasmine Disselbach) d Concordes United 5 (Rosie Clark, Sarah Thomson, Tylar Kennett, Linley Pollard); Warriors White 12 (Sarah Polderman, Linda Dodds 2; Kelly Doyle, Steph Chant, Melissa Chuck, Jasmine Disselbach, Hannah Taylor, Alana Romaine) drew with Warriors Blue 12 (Taylor Pearson, Leyna Bruggemann, Ange Queale 2; Caroline Bradshaw, Tash Vickers)