South Indians secure first win of season

South Indians recorded their first win of the season in Friday night’s Division 1 baseball clash with Tigers.

Tigers lead off batter in the top of the first, Ben Marcus, hit cleanly to right field and was batted in by Matt Thompson.

South replied with three runs. Their lead off, Jett Lewis also hit to rightfield, Ryan Placucci’s hit to second base resulted in an error while Jesse Balshaw loaded the bases with his safety to left field.

Cleanup batter Ryan Walter then batted in the first two batters when his hit to centre field landed safe.

Balshaw crossed on a wild throw. In the top of the third again Tigers lead off batter Ben Marcus’ two bagger to right field saw him safe at second and he again was batted in by Matt Thompson.

Not to be outdone, South also doubled their score in the third. Ryan Walter succeeded in hitting safely to centre field again, both Deklin Joyce and Ben Nash drew walks again loading the bases.

Deegan Habner stepped to the plate and blasted the ball to rightfield scoring Walter and Joyce and Nash scored on the subsequent error by the right fielder.

Tigers returned fire in the fourth. Luke Powell tripled to left field and Harrison Elletson picked a walk.

Powell scored on Scott Cameron’s hit into a fielder’s choice and Elletson followed on Ben Marcus’ safehit to centre field. He was batted in by Karl Ransom.

Again the Indians came up with the goods. Jesse Balshaw walked, Ryan Walter on board again due to a fielder’s choice play and Deklin Joyce on an error again loading the bases.

Ben Nash on safely hitting to centre field scoring Balshaw followed by Deegan Habner whose big hit to centre field scored both Walter and Joyce.

Nash scored the fourth run of the inning when Habner’s hit was then errored by the centre fielder.

Tigers scored single runs in the fifth and sixth digs but South put the game to bed in the bottom of the seventh.

Branden Horrigan and Tarkyn Morale both found themselves on base after fielding errors by the Tigers defence.

Then with two out Jesse Balshaw hit the ball to the fence at leftfield to score both runners.

Balshaw scored on Ryan Walter’s third hit of the game and he in turn scored on Deklin Joyce’s two bagger to left field.

Tigers could only muster one more in the eighth when Ben Marcus’ flyball to centre field was grassed and touched home plate on Karl Ransom’s safehit to centre field.

South gave up two walks, two hit batters, 10 safehits and made three strikeouts and six errors.

Tigers gave up four walks, 15 safehits and made six strikeouts and seven errors.

Despite having two of their better players, Alex Reppin and Matt Nicholls, out with injuries, Federal put up a much better showing than their last outing against ladder leaders Central.

Although they still failed to score, defensively they were much better in the field and held the Magpies hitters to just six runs.

Central opened their account in the bottom of the first scoring two.

Kyall McClean and Nathan Meinck both picked a base on ball and were batted in when Dylan Chuck (pictured) singled to left field.

In the bottom of the fifth Daniel Ferguson drilled a nice hit to centre field and Kyall McClean picked his second walk.

Ferguson crossed home on Dylan Chuck’s sacrifice fly also to centre field while McClean followed soon after when he stole home.

Final runs for the game came in the even seventh when Kyall McClean hit safely to left field,

Nathan Meinck picked his second walk and the were both batted in again by Dylan Chuck to give Central the win six runs to two.

Dylan Chuck pitched the whole nine digs picking up 12 strikeouts along with giving up just two safehits with the team making just one error.

Federal used two pitchers picking up just a single strikeout but giving up seven base on ball and seven safehits. The team made just two errors.