Strathalbyn v Hills Heat Masters - ‘A’ Grade Women

In the late game Strathalbyn came out swinging and produced safe hits to Kim Cutting, Kathy Pash with Peyton Daniels hitting a triple to bring them both home followed by a safe hit to Gab Martin bringing home Daniels before a great catch by Masters left fielder Kylie Barrington, a pick off at second and an out at first ended the innings. Strath started well in the field too with Ashlee Peterson taking a catch at second, a K2 to pitcher/catcher combo of Daniels to Bianca Pash and an out at first by third baser Martin holding them scoreless with the only safe hit to Kel O’Brien.

It was three up three down in the second batting dig for Strath with Masters third baser Lauren Christensen and second baser Kerry Wilkinson both making outs at first and the third out being a strange hit the ball a second time on the swing through and out of the box. Masters picked some walks in the second and had runners on base but again Strath had their minds on making good choices with another K2, a pitchers fielders choice pick off at third and a put out at first by Tash Mayes to leave them stranded.

Strath started their third turn at bat with a home run to Kathy Pash and Daniels with a double followed by multiple single safe hits which had brought in four runs and loaded the bases when Cutting had a great hit past the Masters right fielder to bring everyone home for a grand slam. Daniels followed up again with another double, Kathryn Milne had another safe hit and B. Pash hitting to right field as well which brought in a further three runs with Masters working hard in the field for a tag out at second, a catch taken by Christensen and a K2 to new pitcher Meg Chaplin. Masters put bat onto ball in the third with safe hits to Barrington, O’Brien, Chaplin and a three baser to Christensen which brought in three runs with Strath’s right fielder Emily Eglitis combining with Cutting for an out at second, Daniels making an out at first and B. Pash throwing across the diamond for a pick off at second.

Strath had safe hits to Tess Norris, Eglitis, Cutting and K. Pash but with Masters right fielder Kate Adamson taking a catch, short stop Michelle Davis also taking a catch and catcher Sharon Perkins, Christensen and Davis all being involved in a trap play they held Strath to two runs. Kirsty Hailstone gained herself a walk in the fourth and worked her way around the diamond and was brought home by a hit to the outfield by Davis but Strath were too strong in the field with Cutting combining with Mayes for two outs at first and receiving the ball from Eglitis for an out at second to end the game. Strathalbyn coming out on top 16 runs to Masters 4 and with some confidence going into the first final next week.

Strathalbyn v Pirates - ‘C’ Grade Women

Pirates started their game off with safe hits to Michelle Stewart, Debbie Taylor and Danielle Hupfield with a two baser to Vanessa Silvy which brought in three runs with Strath’s third baser Monica Spriggs making an out at first, second baser Lavinia Seymour taking a catch and then also making an out first to end the innings. Strath’s first two batters were HPB and with a couple of walks gained and safe hits to Monica Spriggs and Annabel McGregor they were able to bring home four runs with an infield fly, an out at second and short stop Brenae Wieringa making an out at first.

Safe hits to Wieringa and Sue Stewart helped Pirates bring home two runs in the second with Strath’s short stop Rebecca Sims combining with Spriggs making two fielders choice outs at third and Seymour making another out at first. Sims, Vanessa Kitto and Amy Bailey all had safe hits for Strath with Seymour hitting a two baser and combined with great base running and a steal home by Bailey they brought in five runs while Pirates made a K2 and a double play by centre fielder Leonie Beattie taking a catch and getting the ball in quickly to second to catch the runner out of their ground.

Two walks were gained by Pirates in the third with Beattie having the only safe hit but with some great base running Hupfield got home but runners were left stranded on base with Strath making another two outs at first and a K2 to pitcher/catcher combo of Bailey to Amber Crawford. Strath had safe hits to Bailey, McGregor and Crawford in the third dig and even with some great base stealing Pirates held them to just two runs with a catch taken by Wieringa now at third and Stephanie Zuzolo now at short stop taking two catches to end the innings and the game with Strathalbyn looking to take the momentum into the finals series winning 11 runs to the Pirates 6 runs.