Veterans shine in diamond return

WARRIORS BLUE V CONCORDES UNITED

United was staunch in the field as they had a fabulous victory over their favourite opposition in Warriors Blue.

United’s Tylar Kennett found her groove in the pitcher’s circle and shrugged off the warmer weather while snuffing out the Blue bats over five tight digs.

United’s lead off Rosie Clark kicked herself after swinging at balls, Sarah Thomson drilled the first pitch she saw down the leftfield line to Maddy Sutherland with Aimee Beck having a great battle with Blue’s pitching veteran before she was sent back to her side’s bench.

United’s glue, Bec White, patiently waited for her pitch and absolutely smacked a pearler to centre right for a triple, scoring Thomson before the dig was done.

Blue bounced out with two runs of their own courtesy of Taylor Pearson, singling to Brooks at left, she snuck to second as Kennett registered her first K2 then Leyna Bruggemann doubled out to Rosie roaming at centre left for an RBI.

Angela Queale patiently walked, Caroline Bradshaw moved her teammates around hitting back to Kennett, then Sutherland legged out an infield single for an RBI before Analeigh Anderson sent one to the outfield but it was magnetised to Brooks’ glove and she took the catch, safe as houses.

Bruggemann made short work of the United hitters in the second with two KCs and a fly catch but she was keeping Maddy Bignell behind the plate busy with some rubbish in the dirt throughout the game.

Kennett responded in kind for her team, facing only four Blue hitters in her defensive innings, walking Renee Parker, Kelly Anderson was calmly thrown out by Daz Wilson at third, who also took a catch in dangerous cocky hole riddled foul territory off Pearson’s bat.

Bignell ran out an infield single and then Thomson was in the action again, getting Parker in a trap play running back to third with Kennett also involved and Daz putting the tag on for the last out.

Tekani Clark led off with bat on ball before her mum rocketed one off Bruggemann’s glove after fanning at a changeup.

Thomson drilled another shot to left, this time a double that scored Rosie who was taking absolutely no notice of the third base coach’s instruction, showing her jets all the way from first.

Brooks found the right side on an outside pitch which moved Thomson around but she fell in a cocky hole and couldn’t get home.

Not to worry as the ever trusty up the middle hitter in White zinged one that was muffed to centre but not before two runs scored and her side had their tails up with a 4-2 lead.

Pearson put the tag on Kennett to hold White at third and Julie Beck hit a grounder to Kel Anderson at second who made a steady play for the last out.

Kennett was all over Blue again, keeping the meaty part of their order scoreless as White threw out Bruggemann, Queale singled to left, Bradshaw popped up to Kennett then Sutherland hit a lovely shot to Daz but Queale made an error in judgement and ended up running straight into the tag without a force.

Bruggemann bounced back for a few more Ks with her favourite Concorde Jerri-Lee Cooper popping one over Queale’s head but the seasoned campaigner showed a bit of flare, stretching back on the backhand for the catch and a donut up for United.

United soaked up Blue’s attempt to pressure them as Analeigh flew out to Rosie, Parker singled to Brooks, Kel Anderson got hit by a pitch and Pearson walked to load up the bases with one out.

Bignell and Bruggemann choked and the result was another zero as Kennett’s steely composure shone through with solid defence from Beck and Brooks.

United added another run to their lead as Rosie singled again, off the first pitch of the inning mind you, with Thomson quickly going to 0-2 before she owned Bruggemann with her third hit of the day out to Sutherland again and the RBI.

Thomson had been a woman possessed behind the plate too, keeping balls in front of her and daring the Blues runners to try something.

Brooks doubled and this time it was Thomson called out going back to third in a trap play.

White stepped up and her shot was barely seen it was that hard off the bat, luckily for her old teammate Bruggemann, it went straight into her glove and she took Quleae by surprise unleashing a straight throw, and after an umpire’s conference, Brooks was called out in a double play and Blue’s having to find something special in their last bat.

Lead off Quleae did find something special, one for the record books in fact, as she legged out an infield single to Kennett.

Bradshaw popped up to White, Sutherland whacked a double and Analeigh’s infield single scored Queale.

Parker lobbed one to Daz and Sutherland was bamboozled not tagging up, and United were too cluey with Beck covering second to have the out on Daz’s throw and the big W, 5-3, for her team.

DEMONS V CONCORDES WHITE

White started the bat with the consistent Dana Jones, who sent a blinder to left field leaving her safe at first.

A ground ball to third from Kate Altschwager moved Jones to second but was the first out for White with Simone Little fielding and playing one.

Em Hart, Demons pitcher, scored her first K2 for the day and White was two out.

Sam Brown hit a two bagger to left, scoring Jones and putting White’s first run on the board.

Demons put on a batting clinic in the first, being patient in the box served them well with Em Hart, Meg Merrett and Tieran Vos earning themselves walks.

Trusty batter Simone Little earnt two safe hits in the first innings and the red and blue took opportunities to take bases scoring seven runs in the first.

Demons were three up, three down in the defence with two outs at first and a caught ball from Hart on the mound. White remained at one run.

Hayley Burner started the dig off with a disciplined bat earning herself a walk, before Kezia Feast hit to short stop moved Burner to third.

Altschwager took a fly catch in left, and with an infield fly and fielders choice to Pauline Long at third, Demons added another three.

In the final dig, White found their rhythm at the plate and scored four safe hits in Jones, Baird, Brown and Long, which was Brown’s second two bagger for the game. White put three on the board.

Demons stayed consistent and patient with another four walks and a double bagger from Merrett which scored three runners home.

Demons ended the dig and took home the win 13-4.

BANDITS V WANDERERS

Wanderers opened the game at the plate, with the Bandits taking the field first.

The Bandits’ pitcher started strongly, supported by sharp infield work to shut down Wanderers early.

In the bottom of the inning, the Bandits struck first, with the top of the order setting the tone through solid contact and smart base running to open the scoring. In the second innings.

Wanderers returned to the plate with intent, putting the ball in play and testing the Bandits’ defence.

Strong communication in the outfield and clean throws in the infield prevented any damage. In the bottom of the inning, Wanderers responded defensively, holding the Bandits scoreless through tight fielding and well executed outs.

The persistence paid off for Wanderers in the third, as they applied pressure offensively and were able to bring home their lone run.

The Bandits responded immediately in the field, limiting further scoring with composed defence.

Batting in the bottom of the inning, the Bandits answered back, regaining momentum through timely hitting and disciplined at-bats.

Wanderers continued to battle at the plate but found the Bandits’ pitcher and defence difficult to break down, with key outs recorded at crucial moments.

The Bandits capitalised in the bottom of the inning, stringing together hits and aggressive base running to add valuable runs to the scoreboard.

Wanderers showed resilience, continuing to work hard for opportunities, but strong defensive plays across the diamond kept them scoreless.

In reply, the Bandits maintained their pressure at the plate, with contributions throughout the lineup extending the lead.

Wanderers made a final push offensively but were held out by disciplined pitching and reliable defence from the Bandits.

The Bandits closed out the game confidently in the bottom of the innings, finishing with an 8–1 victory built on teamwork, consistency, and strong performances across all areas of the game.RESULTSConcordes United 5 (Sarah Thomson 3; Aimee Brooks 2; Rosie Clark & Bec White) d Warriors Blue 3 (Ange Queale, Maddy Sutherland 2; Taylor Pearson, Maddy Bignell, Leyna Bruggemann, Analeigh Anderson & Renee Parker); Demons 13 (Meg Merrett 3; Simone Little 2; Katelyn Laube) d Concordes White 4 (Sam Brown, Dana Jones 2; Sarah Baird & Pauline Long); Bandits 8 (Deb Hicks 3; Mackenzie Millard, Mel McCracken 2; Montanna Millard, Kylie Cook, Chantel Macdonald, Chrystal Lock & Emilee Mitchell) d Wanderers 1 (Lily Clifford-Finch & Abbie Frankenburg)