Strathalbyn v Hahndorf Black (Hills Softball Association Under 14’s)

The softball gods were smiling this morning, with perfect conditions for Strath’s U14’s last game of the season. Strath started strongly at bat, with their best batting effort so far seeing the maximum seven runs cross the plate. Eva Eglitis as lead off batter took a walk and showed aggressive base running to get around to third base before Lindsay Butler grounded a ball to third, scoring Eglitis and beating the play to first. Charlie Askew sent the ball to leftfield to move Butler around. Jack Walters followed with another walk before Meg Keenan faced loaded bases to hit a ground ball to shortstop, unfortunately forcing Askew out at third despite his brilliant slide. Tallera Spinks stepped up to hit the first pitch back to the pitcher, and was put out at first base before Zoe Williams  took a walk and was batted around the diamond by a great safe hit by Bailey Bradshaw past 2nd base. Nate Spinks joined the side again, up from the under 10’s and didn’t look out of place, taking a walk before Eglitis and Askew batted him around to score, both with brilliant left field hits. In reply, most of Hahndorf’s team made it safe to first on walks, after going deep into the count with great teamwork by Eglitis pitching to Bradshaw. The scores were level at 7-7 at the end of the first innings.

In the second and final innings, Strathalbyn took more walks, with hits by Williams and Nate Spinks being gobbled up by the pitcher and the out made to first, but still enough to push the runners around the diamond. Askew rounded out the final out of the inning with a pop fly to the pitcher, after five runs by Strath crossed the plate. Strath got through their entire line up, and with the outs, brought in five runs. 

Askew stepped up to the pitching plate in Strath’s final defence with Walters donning the catching gear. A few walks were taken by Hahndorf, with Askew not far off the mark, but once his eye was in, all three outs were made by strike outs, with the only safe hit being well fielded by Williams in centrefield. A couple of unfortunate errors came back to bite, with six  runs scored by Hahndorf to take the game in the final moments by a single run. 

This concludes a brilliant developmental season for a team made up of players new to each other and new to the age group, with Strathalbyn hosting players from Pirates, Echunga and Macclesfield to fill up the team. We warmly welcome anyone interested in trying softball out, with our off-season academy focusing on technique, pitching and catching and open for all juniors (from U10 to U16 and beyond) in preparation for season 2023/24.