United ends Bandits’ season

IT WAS a scorching, heart-pounding day as Bandits went head-to-head with Concordes United in the preliminary final.

The game kicked off with Bandits hitting the ground running, taking control right out of the gate.

Their defence was sharp as ever, sending Dana Jones, Sarah Thomson, and Julie Beck packing in just five minutes—three up, three down.

As Bandits came to bat, Mackenzie Millard kicked things off with a safe bunt, but the momentum quickly stalled.

A fly ball from Di Horbury was caught by Aimee Brooks in left field, and Caroline Bradshaw’s high hit was snagged by catcher Codie Jackway.

However, things started looking better for Bandits when Deb Hicks hit a double to left field, scoring Mackenzie Millard and getting herself safely on base.

Emma Williams made it to first due to a fumble by Tylar Kennett at second however the rally was cut short when coach Chrystal Lock’s sharp line drive was snatched by Thomson at shortstop, ending Bandits’ inning.

United’s explosive offence quickly answered in the second inning.

Billie Jones led off with a perfect hit to left field, falling just short of Chantal MacDonald’s glove, advancing to third after a wild throw from the catcher trying to get her on the steal.

A fast line drive from Brooks back to pitcher, Lock, halted Billie Jones at third, but she scored shortly after on a hit from Kennett.

Bec White followed with a safe hit just over the head of second baseman Melissa McCracken, moving Kennett to second.

Jackway’s hit to left field advanced both Kennett and White, but Kennett was out as Jacinta Packer’s hit to Hicks at third saw her throw home for the lead runner out.

With the bases loaded, it was Dana Jones’ turn to shine.

After a foul ball rattled her nerves, she unleashed a massive hit over the centerfielder’s head, clearing the bases with an infield grand slam.

The hits kept coming – Thomson and Beck safely reached base, and Billie Jones’ well-placed hit to centerfield scored them both.

Brooks followed suit with a strong hit to centre-right, scoring Billie Jones and herself on the second home run of the game.

The innings wrapped up with a clutch catch by Lock, retiring Kennett, but United had taken control with an 8-1 lead.

Bandits were determined not to give up, and their defence stepped up in the third inning.

White’s hit to third baseman Hicks, Jackway’s dropped third strike, and Packer’s hit back to the pitcher all resulted in quick outs at first, with Maddie Redman’s reach unable to be beat.

Back at the plate, Mackenzie Millard once again tried for a bunt, but pitcher Billie Jones was ready, scoring the out at first.

A catch by Jackway at the fence got Horbury out, and the final out of the inning came with Bradshaw hitting straight to Harmony Kennett at second base for a quick flick to first.

United struggled in the fourth inning. Dana Jones was retired on a fly catch by Bradshaw at second, and despite Thomson taking a walk and Beck safely reaching base, the rally fizzled out.

An infield fly ended Billie Jones’ at-bat, and Brooks’ hit to shortstop was quickly played to first to end the side.

Bandits had their own challenges in the fourth.

Montanna Millard up on her first bat of the game was struck out by Billie Jones.

Hicks walked and stole second, and Lock got on base with a safe hit to right field, advancing Hicks to third.

But a quick pickoff by Jackway caught Hicks out at third, Billie Jones end the innings with her second strike out of the game, retiring McCracken.

In the fifth, Bandits’s defence continued to shine. Montanna Millard struck out both Harmony Kennett and White, and Jackway’s fly ball was caught, with Millard completing the three outs herself.

United kept their fight alive, with Emily Mitchell hitting a fly ball to Thomson at shortstop for the first out.

Redman reached base after an error at first and stole second, then advanced to third after the pick off to second was overthrown.

She eventually made it home on a passed ball.

Mackenzie Millard’s foul ball was caught by Jackway, and Horbury’s left field hit was snagged once again by Brooks.

Bandits had narrowed the gap to 8-2.

United came right back in the sixth inning.

Packer reached first after a fumble by second baseman Bradshaw, her recovery not being able to beat Packer’s speed.

Dana Jones chose the first pitch to send down the third base line to the fence, scoring Packer and herself for her second home run of the game, to make it 10-2.

Thomson’s hit went straight to Bradshaw at second, who scored the out at first, Beck was able to get on with a hit to centerfield however that’s as far as she got as Billie Jones’ very fast line drive to short stop was unable to pass the defence of Horbury.

A simple pitcher to first out ended Aimee Brooks.

Bandits weren’t done yet. Bradshaw made it to first on a fumble by the second baseman, and a passed ball allowed her to get to second.

She advanced to third on a defensive error, but a caught fly ball to Tylar Kennett at second held her at third and retired Montanna Millard.

Lock managed to get to first on a safe hit and brought Bradshaw home. Lock stole second, and after an error on a hit by McCracken, she scored the second run of the inning for Bandits.

But United still held a comfortable lead of 10-4 going into the seventh and final inning.

Bandits’ defence locked it down in the seventh.

Kennett’s hit to pitcher Montanna Millard resulted in an out at first, and White assisted in her own out, hitting the ball straight to Lock at first.

A foul ball from Jackway was caught by Lock, ending the top of the seventh with three quick outs.

Bandits had one last chance to make a push in their final at-bats.

Redman’s fast ground ball to Dana Jones at right field saw her safely reach base, but a foul ball caught by Jackway retired Mackenzie Millard.

Another catch by White retired Horbury.

With a last-ditch effort, Bradshaw hit safely to centre, advancing Redman, but a fly ball from Hicks was easily caught by White, ending the game, the inning, and Bandits’ season.RESULTSConcordes United 10 (Dana Jones (2HR), Billie Jones 2; Aimee Brooks 1 (HR), Sarah Thomson, Julie Beck, Bec White, Codie Jackway) d Bandits 4 (Mackenzie Millard, Caroline Bradshaw, Deb Hicks, Chrystal Lock, Maddie Redman)