Strathalbyn v Hahndorf - ‘A’ Grade Women (Grand Final)

Meeting Hahndorf in the Grand Final for the second year running Strathalbyn were up to bat first and had hits to the outfield but unfortunately Hahndorf’s fielders were too good and catches were taken at right field and centre with a K2 to pitcher/catcher combo of Tahlia Larosa to Georgia King which ended the innings three up three down. Hahndorf came in to bat and Strath also started strong in the field with second baser Kathryn “Buttsy” Milne making two outs at first before a walk to Megan Williams got her on base and a home run to King brought them both home with Strath’s third baser Kathy Pash fielding and throwing across the diamond to first for the third out.

Strath had a line drive hit to Gab Martin which was caught by Larosa, Bianca Pash was out at first and Tash Mayes was caught at second with Milne the only safe hit to the outfield but unable to score. Strath returned the favour in Hahndorf’s second turn at bat with Mayes at left field, Emily Eglitis at centre and Ashlee Peterson at right all taking great outfield catches for three up three down.

Larosa was having a great night pitching and had two K2’s and another line drive catch in the third to send Strath from the diamond scoreless again. An error in the field and a walk got two Hahndorf runners on base and they both made it home with K. Pash and short stop Kim Cutting making outs at first and Cutting combining with Eglitis for a pick off at second base.

K. Pash gained a walk for Strath in the fourth followed by a safe hit to the outfield by Peyton Daniels but they were left stranded on base with another two K2’s to Larosa and a catch taken at centre by Keira Trevorrow. Strath started their defence well with a pick off at second made by new pitcher Daniels but Hahndorf gained some walks, had some safe hits and a home run to Abbie Bastian which brought home five runs before an infield fly and an out at first ended the innings.

Strath came in for their fifth turn at bat and knew they needed to make runs to keep them in the game and started well with a safe hit to the outfield by Mayes but she was out at second on a fielders choice which also happened again with Tess Norris before Eglitis got on and was brought home by a three baser to Cutting who in turn came home by a hit to K. Pash but she was left stranded on base with Hahndorf’s right fielder Breanna Luxon taking a great catch which ended the innings and the game with Hahndorf seven runs up, 9 runs to 2 with the mercy rule in play. Congratulations to Hahndorf it was a great game with a closer score than last season so Strathalbyn are closing the gap and looking forward to giving it another go next season.

Strathalbyn v Redsox - ‘C’ Grade Women (Grand Final)

Strathalbyn were taking on Redsox in the C grade women Grand Final with Redsox batting first. They had a safe hit to Suvali Sharma and with great base stealing she was brought home by a safe hit to Elisa Heath before Strath’s first baser Kelly Roe made an out, a K2 to pitcher/catcher combo of Amy Bailey to Amber Crawford and a short stop fielders choice taking out the lead runner. Strath came in to bat with Lavinia Seymour and Rebecca Sims both picking walks and with some great base running they both managed to get around the diamond and steal home for the only two runs of the innings with Redsox making two outs at first and a K2.

Strath held tight in the field in Redsox second turn at bat with another out at first, a pick off at second with a great throw from catcher Crawford to short stop Sims and Sims then fielding and throwing to Roe for the third out to hold them scoreless. Strath were unable to add any more runs in the second with Redsox pitcher/catcher combo of Sienna Golder to Sharma getting two K2’s and Sharma taking a high ball catch.

The third dig for Redsox produced a safe hit to Golder and a home run to Jackie Megson which helped bring in two runs with Strath’s Roe again picking the ball out of the dirt and playing her base to make the out and then receiving the ball twice more from second baser Seymour to end the innings. Strath were looking to get some runs on the board but were unable to even with a safe hit to Crawford who ended up stranded on third base with another two K2’s to Golder and an out at first sending them from the diamond.

Redsox fourth dig had Mandy Bottroff hitting a single, Golder with a double and Sharma with a triple which added a further three runs to their total while Strath worked hard in the field with Bailey making an out at first, pitching well for another K2 and Seymour making the third out at first base. Strath had no choice but to bat well being four runs behind and had a hit to Vanessa Kitto and Annabel McGregor getting on deck after being hit on the helmet but they were unable to bring anyone home with Redsox in control in the field with two outs at first and Golder having a day out pitching her sixth K2 to end the game. It was a great game with great sportsmanship and Redsox coming away Premiers with a 6 to 2 win against Strathalbyn.