Warriors bounce back

Warriors v Concordes United

Concordes United meant business on the back of a great last three innings the previous week when it took on Warriors at the weekend.

Sarah Thomson uncharacteristically left the first pitch she faced then slammed the next to left, being scored on team hitting by Dana Jones, Jacinta Packer and Leonie McCallum.

Warriors rolled out after their hiding last week by Demons, scoring two in the bottom half of the first.

Sarah Polderman lined one back to Jones who snagged a lovely catch, Jarvo Queale picked a walk, Leyna Bruggemann nearly snapped McCallum’s shin at third before Melissa Chuck legged out an infield single.

Warriors catcher Daena Wombwell picked a walk which scored Queale and then Taylor Pearson, a welcome return to the Warriors roster, hit into a fielder’s choice before Haley Lindner forced an error which scored another blue and white run.

Warriors knuckled down in the second dig leaving United scoreless despite Aimee Brooks smashing a crisp single to centre.

Polderman made serious ground to deny Thomson of another safe hit.

United started with getting the lead off out in the bottom of the second but then the Warriors runs started coming.

Chuck drilled one to centre that had Jarvo ducking for safety, crawling back to second and calling for a replacement with equal speed, luckily Justine Koop was available.

Lindner struck again with a two RBI single then Dodsy Dodds chimed in with a single to Harmony Kennett at right.

Jones shut down the five run innings by throwing out Jasmine Disselbach for the second time in the game.

In one of the plays of the game, Wombwell gunned Julie Beck out after springing up from behind the plate, collecting a miss hit and making her grandparents in the stand proud.

Jones spanked a Bruggemann pitch over Dodds’ head for a triple, Polderman back at shortstop keeping the speedster at third on the relay.

Packer still had energy to burn despite catching a few at left and some of the most enthusiastic cheering heard in Blue Lake Sports Park for some time; she scored Jones with a single to Disselbach now at centre.

Leonie McCallum shrugged off her pain and soldiered on, adding to further safe hits to her tally showing grit.

Chuck made a great double play at third to shut down United’s momentum.

Warriors added another three runs with Koop and Chuck walking, Bruggemann this time taking the glove and nearly the arm off of her Concordes mate Sam Brown, then Wombwell and Pearson hitting safely.

Pearson put on a clinic at first with some great composure to keep United to nil.

Warriors then seemed to lapse into a coma with some questionable base running and inability to keep the ball away from playmaker Jones, they remained scoreless for the last two innings.

The fifth was when United reminded Warriors pitcher Bruggemann of her age with Thomson doubling, as did Beck, followed by a Jones double to make the trifecta.

The Warriors outfield was getting their steps up but also hit their cuts, limiting United’s free bases.

Tyler Kennett might have been robbed of a safe hit as she pulverised an outside pitch to right before Polderman made a heads up double play, tagging McCallum as she tried to sneak past.

Koop made the last play of the game to the audible Warriors sighs of relief as they got away with a 10-6 win.

Millicent Bandits v Wanderers

In their first face-off of the season, Wanderers took an early lead against the Millicent Bandits, with Wanderers up to bat first.

Smart base running and a well-placed hit to left field by Leanne Little allowed Wanderers to bring three runs across the plate in their opening at-bat.

Bandits’ Debra Hicks responded by delivering a critical strikeout (K2) to secure the third out and bring her team in to bat, preventing further scoring.

Little initially took the mound for Wanderers but left due to injury, with Abbie Lovekin stepping in.

Patient batting from Bandits paid off, as safe hits from Hicks, fill-in Kylie Cook, Chrystal Lock, and Caroline Bradshaw brought base runners home, allowing Bandits to finish their first inning with a remarkable 10 runs.

In the second inning, Bandits’ Chantel Macdonald took over pitching duties, but Wanderers fought back.

Fiona Finch and Rej Smith both reached base and scored, propelled by a strong hit to right field by Emily Little.

A powerful hit to center by Charli Kaigg brought Little across the plate, with Wanderers tallying four runs before Bandits secured the final out.

Rej Smith pitched for Wanderers in the bottom of the second, adding a layer of challenge for Bandits’ batters.

However, Bandits used skillful base running and timely hits from Bradshaw, Hicks, and Cook to secure another four runs, extending their lead.

In the final inning, only Finch and Smith reached base for Wanderers, unable to advance as Bandits tightened their defense to keep Wanderers scoreless.

With fatigue setting in for both teams, Bandits capitalized on their last at-bat, as Mackenzie Millard, Hicks, and Cook drove in four additional runs to close out the game.

In a well-spirited contest, Bandits emerged victorious over Wanderers with a final score of 18-7.

Concordes White v Demons

In the final game of the weekend, Concordes White faced off against Demons. A

bbey Meinck started the innings for Demons with a cracking shot to leftfield, but after reaching first was unable to continue due to injury and was replaced by Sharna Beck.

Alli Kreplins who was on the mound for Concordes showed her skill by striking out Kezia Feast and then both Cody Manning and Steph Chant were thrown out through infield plays by Kate Altschwager and Aleesha Tucker.

Kreplins then started the batting for Concordes with a carefully watched walk but was put out at two by a ripping throw from catcher Meg Merrett.

Unfortunately Concordes players were unable to get on base, leaving the score nil all after one innings.

The top of the second saw Kreplins continue her good form with two K2s and a great out to one by Aleesha Tucker to end the innings.

Sam Brown started the batting innings with a zipping shot to leftfield that started a solid batting dig as batters did their job in getting on base through base on balls and safe hits resulting in six runs for the innings.

Demons then took up the challenge and returned fire in the batting box with Sofie Morale starting the innings with a shot through short stop that started a batting rally with the key stand outs being Manning’s two bagger to leftfield and Chant’s three bagger to Centrefield.

Demons racked up five safe hits to score five runs for the innings. Keely Lunsman started the bottom of the third with a great bat to centerfield, which was followed by a single to Pollard to build runners on bases.

Kreplins then joined as a base runner with her second safe hit, but Concordes were unable to capitalise as incoming pitcher Billie Jones shut down the remaining Concordes batters and Sarah Dohnt took a sizzling catch to end the innings.

At the top of the fourth the game was tight with a five to six scoreline. Kreplins remained cool under pressure, giving up only one safe hit to Chant with a double to centerfield and one run scored for the innings.

With the scores now level, Jones also kept a level head and held the Concordes batters to no score. It was a fitting end to a great game for both players and spectators alike with the game tied at six all.

RESULTS

Warriors 10 (Mel Chuck 2; Daena Wombwell, Taylor Pearson, Haley Lindner, Linda Dodds) d Concordes United 6 (Dana Jones, Leonie McCallum 3; Sarah Thomson 2;Julie Beck, Jacinta Packer, Aimee Brooks); Millicent Bandits 18 (Deb Hicks, Kylie Cook 3; Caroline Bradshaw 2; Chrystal Lock, Mackenzie Millard) d Wanderers 7 (Leanne Little, Natasha Moore, Fiona Finch, Rej Smith, Charli Kaigg); Demons 6 (Steph Chant 2; Billie Jones, Simone Little, Cody Manning, Abbey Meinck, Meg Merrett, Sofie Morale) drew with Concordes White 6 (Alli Kreplins 2; Sam Brown, Kylie Cook, Keely Lunsman, Lynley Pollard, Melanie Smaling)