Warriors look to have really turned a corner

Some big hitting signals return of softball in 2023
Softball resumed this weekend after the Christmas break, and players were greeted with hot conditions for their first game back.

Warriors have, for the first time this season, entered a winning streak by continuing their improved form into the New Year bolstered by their mascot Gary’s presence.

Warriors batted first, scoring five care of doubles to Linda Dodds and Kelly Doyle, Bec White zinging around the bases with yet another triple to her season tally, and a RBI single to smiling assassin Melissa Chuck.

The Flash Erin Chaplin showed surprising stealth, sneaking around to second with her hit scoring two. She then played the team game backing up Warriors gun Sarah Polderman in the pitching duties.

Concordes White were not taking the Warriors lead lightly, scoring five of their own in the bottom half of the same innings. The ever dangerous Rachel Bagshaw (pictured below) belted the ball to the fence for an in the park home run, scoring lead off Alli Wilson.

Concordes White hitters remained patient, Sam Brown, Kate Altschwager, and Linley Pollard getting themselves on base forcing a Warriors pitching change amongst three fielding clangers.

Polderman showed her class despite not meeting her own lofty standards with the ball, smashed a triple to right at the top of the second.

After a subsequent walk to Dodds, Concordes pitcher Wilson then put the mockers on the Warriors bats with three outs in a row.

The Flash decided to do similarly, facing four batters and enjoying two textbook Polderman plays at shortstop and a ripper catch to youngster Arrabelle Searle who was by that time at centrefield, her third fielding position for the day.

Wilson again shut down the Warriors bats, helped by the latter hitting the ball to Bagshaw at shortstop who pulled down a screamer off of The Flash’s bat. Chaplin provided her views of tall fielders while celebrating the great play.

It seemed to ignite Concordes as they piled on the hits in the third with Pollard singling to left before being thrown out at two when Searle made a heads up play fielding a shallow ball in centre.

Concordes put on their rally caps with a Wilson single, scored on another long ball by Bagshaw, then not to be outdone, veteran Sam Brown crushed a pitch to centre for a double – all with two outs, putting them in the lead 8-6 going into the fourth.

Warriors applied the pressure, Polderman nearly taking the glove off of Kylie Cook at third with a line drive, before being scored by a hard hit Bec White ball and more heads up Warriors base running.

Chuck singled, scoring Dodds, Doyle forced an error which scored White then Saintly Jasmine Disselbach put the ball in play and made her way to third, showing her flashy leg speed when not ball watching.

She then shocked even herself, tagging up on a sacrifice fly to right by Searle, and scoring a run including attempting a slide at the plate to ensure the run was safe putting Warriors up 12-8.

In what was going to be the last Concordes bat, Dianne Patzel then led off with a single but was caught stealing by an outstanding throw from catcher Doyle, who plate umpired the earlier game in the heat, and an equally outstanding tag by Polderman.

After another catch to Searle at centre, Warriors had their tails up with two outs and unbeknownst to most in the field, a four run lead. Then came Concordes’ Maddi Bowd, the young leader singled and was moved around by Maddy Sutherland absolutely tagging one to The Flash who nearly lost her hand.

In an anticlimax the last out was an automatic out with Warriors securing a 12-9 victory and jumping off the bottom of the ladder although all other teams still have outstanding games to play.

In the other game, equal league leaders Demons took on reigning premiers Concordes United, and it was an incredibly tight game right until the final innings.

Both Billie Jones and Dana Jones pitched outstanding games in sweltering conditions for their respective sides.

Both sides scored three in the first, with Concordes holding a narrow 6-5 lead after two innings. Demons leveled the score at nine all heading into the last innings, almost taking the lead when Billie Jones went for an in the park home run but was tagged out at the plate.

In the end Sarah Thomson was the difference maker, hitting a 2 RBI double to steal the match for Concordes, just one of three hits she had for the game.

Final score 12-9 Concordes United’s way in an outstanding battle.