Warriors secure shock win over Demons

Nailbiting end to classic Warriors-Demons clash in Mount Gambier Softball League action

Warriors were pinching themselves going into the fourth innings 5-3 up against league leaders Demons in what had been a battle of old.

Warriors gun Sarah Polderman caught the ball after the music stopped which meant she had the pitching duties for the day after The Flash Erin Chaplin was unavailable at the last moment.

Polderman was pitching laser beams, striking out four of the Demons hot bats but they still got good contact with a hit each to Em Hart, Steph Chant, and a lovely double to Cody Manning up until that fateful fourth dig.

Prior to that, Polderman had chopped two singles adding another in the fourth, with Clare Chaplin and Skylea McLean showing their strength and speed with singles in the third.

Chaplin smashed a ball to right, enjoying the crack of the bat. Kelly Doyle epitomised the Warrior spirit by putting herself behind many pitches when catching, not to mention lining two safe hits to Jo Hart at left in memory of a lovely lady who had recently passed. Smiling assassin Melissa Chuck showed why she has been Warriors best for a long time, with three smoked hits including a huge triple to right.

She led from the front with her onfield talk and aggressive base running, which was also shown by Linda Dodds, McLean and Chaplin.

Warriors put on nine in the fourth having encouraged a pitching change by showing patience and team hitting against the strength of Billy Jones.

Bec White especially enjoyed the change with two zingers, the new Demon of the South kind Jasmine Disselbach less so being hit by a Manning pitch.

Demons dug deep into their wealth of experience and form which has them top of the ladder for most of the year in the bottom of the last.

Disselbach paid Manning back by catching a fly off that dangerous Demons’ bat for the first out, then making a 4-3 for a steadying second out off the bat of Ebony Smith who had been kept busy all day at right for Demons.

Warriors coaching staff will undoubtedly be increasing their health insurance coverage after being one out away from a comprehensive team victory with what happened next.

Demons made the most of a tiring Polderman who was tired from rounding the bases three times and plate umpiring the earlier game.

The Demons runs kept coming despite the best attempts of Arrabelle Searle and White stopping some key hits in the infield.

Manning drove another long ball and may have misjudged the well tuned relaying of Warriors by taking an extra base but forcing the ball out of the glove in a tag play at second to keep her side alive.

Unbeknownst to pretty much everyone on the diamond, Warriors had an insurmountable lead as Demons celebrated what most thought was the winning run when Smith slid over the plate for their 10th run of the innings.

It was just Warriors’ time to have some luck fall their way, the run rule was invoked and they held on for a 14-13 victory.

Earlier in the day, itt was an entertaining contest between Concordes White and Wanderers.

Wanderers held Concordes in the first innings to no runs scored, then came out and took full advantage of early errors to score three runs and the early lead.

Concordes batters then settled in the second taking every opportunity in the batting box, including safe hits to Maddie Sutherland and Kerry Walker to score four runs and put Concordes back in the lead.

Karly Pearson took control on the mound for MT GAMBIER Concordes held the Wanderers batters to no score for the next three innings with the backing of her field, not to mention a ripping catch at second by Sarah Thomson.

Fiona Finch also had a shinning catch to left field and throw to first for a double play in the third. The remaining innings were tight with Concordes scoring one in the fourth and one in the fifth leaving Wanderers the final dig to win the game.

Kim Key started with a fly to left field that was safely caught by Di Patzel, Charli Kaigg got on base and Edie Jones was caught out on a fly.

Fiona Finch came up to bat and had a safe hit to centre field scoring Kaigg, but Abbie Lovekin was never going to be dropped by the reliable hands of Sarah Thomson ending the game and Wanderers chance of the win, Concordes holding on 6-4.

PLENTY OF ACTION ON THE DIAMOND: (Top left) Clare Chaplin dominated with the bat; (bottom left) Cody Manning always leads from the front for Demons & (below) Sarah Polderman had an impact in the pitcher’s circle and the batting box.