(A Grade Women) Strathalbyn v USC Bears

USC Bears started strongly in the Saturday night game with safe hits to the first five batters bringing in four runs and included a two base hit to Leah Farrell before Strathalbyn pitcher Emily Eglitis made a play to first for the out. A trap play with Farrell eventually being tagged out by Kim Cutting for the second out and a catch at third base by Tash Mayes ended the innings. Strathalbyn’s Tessa Norris began the batting dig by getting a walk and then stealing her way home while her teammates were getting out with a catch in the outfield by Rita Meijer, a K2 and an out at first made by shortstop Kate Adamson sending them from the diamond without any further score. 

The Bears second turn at bat was held to another safe hit and run to Meijer with a pick off at second by Cutting, a catch at short stop to Cutting and a catch to Eliza Lovelock ending the innings with just the one run scored. Strath’s turn at bat also brought in one run after a safe hit by Tiahna Mayes before the Bears shut them down with an out at first, a K2 to pitcher Farrell and catcher Courtney Broughton and a trap play tag at second to send them from the diamond. Strathalbyn was trailing in the run count and had to hold Bears and did so with another catch by Tash Mayes, a catch at second by Kathryn Milne and Mayes fielding well to make the out at first for a three up three down innings. 

Confidence with the bat was needed by Strath and they brought it with a two base hit to Milne, three base hits to Cutting and Crystal Karayiannis and a maiden home run to Tash Mayes to help bring in six runs with Bears making two outs at first and a catch to new pitcher Lisa Wilson to end the innings. A K2 and a double play from Norris, now pitching, taking a catch and quickly throwing to Mayes at third to catch the runner off base held the Bears to just one run made by Jane Wreghitt in their fourth turn at bat. 

Strathalbyn were up to bat again as the game was coming to a close but USC Bears kept the fielding tight with another K2 and a catch to Wilson. Strath got runners on to base but after an injury to Milne, time and game were called with Strathalbyn winning 8-6. In the other ‘A’ grade game on Saturday night, Torrens Valley Redsox defeated Hahndorf 6-4.

Premiership ladder

Torrens Valley 12, Hahndorf 8, USC Bears 7, Strathalbyn 5.