Hills Softball Association ‘A’ Grade Women Round 1 (Strathalbyn v Torrens Valley)

In the first game of the season, Strathalbyn came up against Torrens Valley and fielded first. Torrens Valley had some good hits and brought home three runs before Tessa Norris switched on her pitching with three K2’s combined with catcher Kim Cutting. In their first turn at bat, Strath had some good hits and got runners on base but were unable to bring any runs home. Strath were on fire in their second turn at fielding holding Torrens Valley to no runs with a catch by Buttsy Milne at second, a tag out at third by Cutting to Britt Jackson and a catch at third also by Jackson. Strath were again held to no runs in their second turn at bat with Torrens Valley making a K2, a catch at third and an out at third to send them from the diamond. Torrens Valley brought in a total of seven runs in their third turn at bat due to great batting and running, with Abi Jorgensen hitting a home run. Strath worked hard in the field with an out at second, a tag out at first by Tash Mayes and a fielder's choice put out at third by Jackson. Strathalbyn did better in the third getting runners on base and bringing home two runs before Torrens Valley took a catch at centre and made two outs at first to end the innings. The fourth turn at bat for Torrens Valley brought in a further four runs from great hitting and base running with new pitcher Sasha Penglase getting a K2 and two outs at first base by Rebekah Mayes to send them back to the dugout. Strath needed more runs on the board but were unable to with Torrens Valley making two outs at first and a catch at short stop to end the innings and the game. The final score was Torrens Valley 14 defeating Strathalbyn 2.

Hills Softball Association ‘B/C’ Grade Women Round 1 (Strathalbyn v Hahndorf)

For the first game of the season in the combined ‘B/C’ grade, Strathalbyn Panthers ‘C’ grade took on Hahndorf ‘B’ grade. Strath started in the field and with a catch followed by two K2’s to pitcher Amy Bailey, the Panthers had Hahndorf three up, three down. Strath then came in to bat with lead off batter Stacey Jamieson making it safely to first. After taking a catch at centre field, Hahndorf’s Tracey Luxon sent the ball back to first to make a double play. A two base hit to right field by Rebecca Sims was followed by another great hit to right field by Bobbie Taylor to bring Sims across the plate to score the first run of the game. In the second dig Hahndorf got their bats to the ball, managing to get runners on base and bringing them around. A fantastic catch to Heidi Samuel at centrefield off a great hit by Jackie Pocock helped close out the innings with Hahndorf scoring seven runs. In their next bat Strath was able to get a runner on base and with the help of a great hit by Jess Rumble, scored the runner before a catch to Brooke Goslett at leftfield closed out the inning. The first two batters to come up for Hahndorf were out at first thanks to the safe glove of Rumble with another K2 by Bailey to hold Hahndorf scoreless. Some patient batting in the third innings got runners on base again for Strath with a well placed hit to centrefield by Bailey scoring two runs for the Panthers. In their last at bat, Hahndorf once again got bat to ball for a number of safe hits including a home run by Emma Jarvis. After two outs at first, a tag at home by catcher Taylor ended Hahndorf’s innings. Leading off the last dig, Amy Roker made it on base. After a spectacular steal to second she was brought around the diamond by her teammates to score followed by Jamieson and Casey Taylor for a total of three runs before time was called on the game. The final score was Hahndorf 17 defeating Strathalbyn 7.