Stars shine in return to domestic competition

Millicent Bandits v Concordes White

The one o’clock game on Diamond One saw Concordes White take on Bandits for the final time in minor rounds last weekend.

Chantel MacDonald started in the circle for Bandits and after her home run in Adelaide the weekend before, she was ready to perform.

Trusty coach Chrystal Lock behind the plate directing the game and showing her team support whenever she could.

Karly Pearson was the first up at the plate for White and landed herself on base after a defensive error at short stop.

Sam Brown and Kylie Cook were patient in the box and got walked to first, while Alli Kreplins hit a blinder to centerfield scoring herself two bases.

White finished the innings with three runs home.

Bandits were eager to match White with runs with what looked like a solid offensive line up with big hitter fill-ins Maddie Redman and Allana Feast.

Di Horbury was the first batter to face Whites pitcher Kreplin, who has been working hard on her inside and outside pitches. Horbury and Feast both hit singles to the outfield but Bandits were met too strongly by White defence with three catches to end their innings.

Bandits finished the first dig with no runs scored.

Top of the second saw Bandits come back firing in the defence with three up, three down.

Di Horbury at shortstop assisting in all three outs with two ground balls and plays to first and one fly catch.

Kreplins worked hard on the mound with trusty catcher Linley Pollard supporting her through every pitch.

Coach Lock started her team off strong with a double to centerfield, followed by Emilee Mitchell who earnt herself a single to left.

White defence and Sam Brown at first base worked hard for the next three outs. Bandits put one on the board.

With White looking to put some more runs on the board, veteran Brown was ready to face the plate.

With a misfield to left field she scored herself two bases. Unfortunately, she was unable to progress home to score a run with Bandits working hard for the next three outs with two fly catches and a PO from first base Feast.

In the bottom of the third, the game took a massive turn with Bandits scoring 10 runs.

Horbury, Bradshaw, Feast and MacDonald earnt singles for their team while Lock, lead from the front with two, two baggers.

Redman came to make waves in her fill in game with a perfect placed dinger to right field and that combined with her speedy legs made its easy for her to make her way around the diamond for a home run.

Alana Steike kept her cool amongst the pressure and waited for the walk, while Pollard and Lunsmann landed safe hits.

White put one on the board in the final innings but it was not enough to come back against the offensive third innings from the blue and grey.

Bandits came away with the win 11 – 4.

Wanderers v Concordes United

It was a hot and smoky day on the field as Concordes United faced off against Wanderers in what turned out to be an intense and close game.

From the first pitch, it was clear that both teams were ready to compete.

In the opening innings, Wanderers came out strong, quickly taking control.

They shut down Concordes United in just the first 10 minutes, going three up, three down.

Despite the strong start, Wanderers didn’t get too far ahead.

They managed to bring two runs home in the first inning, but United’s pitcher Billie Jones wasn’t about to let them run away with the game.

Jones struck out two of the opposing batters, showing her dominance from the mound.

But Concordes United didn’t take long to regroup. In the second inning, they found their rhythm at the plate.

A total of four runs crossed the plate, with notable performances from Harmony Kennet, who delivered a safe hit and an RBI, and Dana Jones, who crushed a triple to spark the inning.

Wanderers answered back with a powerful display of their own in the second.

Lily Clifford-Finch launched a huge infield home run, scoring three runs and giving Wanderers a temporary lead.

However, that was where their momentum would stall.

Billie Jones responded with another strikeout, and with a successful pitcher-to-second out and a catch by Harmony Kennett, Concordes United’s defence quickly regained control, ending the inning and keeping the game close.

The third inning was highlighted by a massive hit from Bec White, who sent the ball deep to centre field, scoring a run and advancing to second base.

Sarah Thomson getting on base with a hit to right field, Julie Beck and Billie Jones were the ones to cross the plate for United in the inning, putting them ahead.

Wanderers, however, didn’t back down.

A crucial fly catch by Jess Ghezzi at second base saw Tylar Kennett retired, ending the threat and the inning for Concordes.

Wanderers struggled to put runs on the board in the fourth, with Leanne Little getting on base but no other batters making it past the United defence. United held firm, demonstrating their resilience when it counted.

The game took another turn in the final inning, as Codie Jackway and Dana Jones scored for Concordes, but Wanderers’ pitching and catching duo—Rej Smith and Abbie Lovekin—made it difficult for United to add more runs.

A key change in the pitcher’s circle for United saw Dana Jones take the mound.

However, a wild overthrow allowed Emily Little to score for Wanderers, giving them a glimmer of hope.

United wasn’t done, though.

A stellar defensive effort capped off the game, as three critical catches in the outfield—by Aimee Brooks, Harmony Kennett, and Codie Jackway—shut down any further threats.

With the final out, Concordes United held on for an 8-6 victory.

The game was a showcase of both teams’ grit and determination, and while Wanderers fought hard throughout, it was United’s defence and timely scoring that secured them the win.

Demons v Warriors

Country championships MVP Cody Manning started in the pitcher’s circle for Demons and kept the Warriors bats to one after Abbey Meinck at second made the play to get lead off Daena Wombwell out.

Angela Queale singled to Steph Chant at left and was scored by a right side shot to Taylor Pearson.

Belinda O’Dine was roaming the outfield and made a pin point relay to have Leyna Bruggemann out at the plate who had walked on a full count.

Demons then turned the screws into Warriors’ defence, Meinck chipped one to Kelly Doyle at right, promptly stole second and was scored after pitcher Bruggemann fluffed one off of Manning’s hot bat.

Kezia Feast put one over Linda Dodds’ head for a double, Chant hit a textbook sacrifice fly to score a run before Simone Little legged out an infield single.

Demons had three on the board before Warriors knew it and were in to bat again.

Ball magnet Doyle wore one in the leg and was moved around when Linda Dodds half volleyed one out to Sarah Dohnt at centre.

They both ended up scoring with Queale zinging a shot to centre and showed some smart base running on the throw in finding herself at second.

Bruggemann didn’t get a strike but Teresa Hatch did in the end and was put out by sharp Manning fielding to put her team back on offence.

The bottom of the second was where Warriors came apart at the seams despite having the first two hitters out, Demons scored four unearned runs care of five Warriors fielding clangers.

A shallow blooper gave Manning a double as Warriors outfielders were showing the home run derby winner great respect by fielding on the fence.

Queale made the last out in what would be four plays in a row to the experienced old hand and Demons up 7-3 with coach Kez getting her team up and about.

Warriors lifted much to the relief of Bruggemann’s blood pressure with Pearson leading off with a single, Doyle also singled before Dodds hit one to Manning who held the runners before making the play at one.

Pearson snuck home on a wayward pitch prior to Maddy Bignell and Jasmine Disselbach having outstanding at bats, working the count and both walking on full counts.

Wombwell doubled to Chelsea Feast now at right, scoring two then Jarvo patiently walked which loaded up the bases for Bruggemann with only one out.

She drilled a strike to O’Dine now at left, limiting the damage to only one, tying the score at seven a piece prior to Manning striking out Hatch then Meg Merrett taking a foul fly at first.

In the third dig, Demons were three up, three down in seven pitches and three ground balls – Queale over to Pearson at first.

Despite walking Doyle as the lead off, Em Hart picked her off at first, Manning struck out another two hitters and Bignell got her first hit of the season.

Demons were then in to hit in the bottom of the last innings. It was Bignell again, taking an important catch at centre off Merrett’s bat for the first out.

Manning was determined not to let Bruggemann walk her, hitting a low outside change up for a double to centre-right, putting herself on as the winning run.

Kezia Feast landed one in front of Bignell and Manning held up at the base with the ball ending up right next to her.

Chelsea Feast moved her teammates around with a crisp ground ball to Pearson at first.

Two outs and two on, up strode Little.

She was unaware that she is Bruggemann’s nemesis but the veteran was determined to throw her strikes, taking her straight to two with her offspeed junk.

Little then stayed off a high ball before putting one down the line to right.

Everyone rose to their feet thinking it was surely going to land in for the win, but it was Doyle’s outstretched arm that saved Warriors the match, taking the clutch catch and securing the draw, Demons’ fourth for the season.RESULTS:

Bandits 11 (Chrystal Lock 3 Dianne Horbury, Caroline Bradshaw, Maddie Redman (1HR), Allana Feast 2; Chantel MacDonald) d Concordes White 4 (Alli Kreplins, Linley Pollard, Lauren Lunsmann); Concordes United 8 (Sarah Thomson, Bec White, Harmony Kennett) d Wanderers 6 (Lily Clifford-Finch 2 (1HR)

Rej Smith, Fiona Finch, Jess Ghezzi, Emily Little); Demons 7 (Cody Manning, Kezia Feast 2; Abbey Meinck, Simone Little) drew with Warriors 7(Angela Queale, Taylor Pearson 2; Daena Wombwell, Leyna Bruggemann, Kelly Doyle, Maddy Bignell)