In the first semi- final Strathalbyn took on the Masters who had the first batting dig. They came out looking to get a good start but Strath were sharp in the field with pitcher Tess Norris fielding and throwing to Peyton Daniels at first. Masters Kylie Barrington picked a walk and then Strath second baser Kathryn Milne took a catch and quickly threw to first to catch Barrington off her base for a double play and holding them scoreless. Strath’s first batter Kim Cutting hit a double off the first pitch followed by singles to Kathy Pash and Daniels which brought Cutting home and with great base running moved Pash around to third into scoring position. Masters third baser Mis Ausman took a great catch and then Milne hit a single which brought Pash home but Milne was left stranded on base with Masters Julie Briggs taking a catch and then a trap play at third prevented the runner getting home and was the third out for the innings.

Masters had a safe hit single to Briggs in the second but again they were held scoreless with Strath’s short stop Cutting making an out at first and pitcher Norris working well with catcher Bianca Pash for two K2’s to end the innings. Strath’s Tash Mayes hit a single to right field to get her on base and she was brought home by a double to Norris. Emily Eglitis got the ball in play and brought Norris home but she was out with Masters short stop Michelle Davis making the out at first, Cutting was next up and hit to the outfield which was caught by Meg Chaplin with Norris making it home on the throw. K. Pash also got the ball in play but Ausman fielded well and made the out at first for the third out.

Masters Chaplin got on base in the third and was moved to second by a hit to Kate Adamson which was fielded by third baser Gab Martin who made the out at first and the next two outs were catches taken by Cutting leaving Chaplin stranded and Masters unable to score again. Masters were sharp in the field during Strath’s third turn at bat with Davis and Ausman making outs at first, Milne getting a safe hit but left on first with pitcher/catcher combo of Kel O’Brien to Emily O’Brien getting a K2 to prevent Strath from adding further runs.

In the fourth dig Masters K. O’Brien and Lauren Christensen had safe hits to the outfield and then a sacrifice bunt to Briggs moved them around with B. Pash making the out at first followed by Milne taking a catch at second, a walk to Ausman and a single to Chaplin which brought home K. O’Brien and put Christensen in scoring position but a catch taken at centre by K. Pash prevented her from getting home and ended the innings. Masters were again hot in the field with Davis making another out at first, another catch to centre Chaplin and an out at first by O’Brien sent them from the diamond three up three down.

Davis had a safe hit to the outfield in the fifth but new pitcher Daniels was fielding well making an out at first but the hit moved Davis to second. Another out at first by Daniels into the safe glove of Norris got the second out and Norris quickly threw to third for Martin to make the tag out for a double play and hold them scoreless. Cutting got on base again and was moved to second by K. Pash hitting to the outfield they then both stole bases and were brought home by an outfield hit to Daniels who pushed her luck and was caught in a trap play between first and second with Masters getting the out. A safe hit to Martin got her on base but she was picked off at second by a fielders choice with B. Pash getting the ball into play but being beaten by the throw and out at first.

In the sixth batting dig Daniels made another out at first and another catch was taken by Milne. E. O’Brien and Ausman got on base but were left out on the diamond with Daniels making her fourth out at first for the game which ended the innings preventing Masters from adding to their score. Mayes picked a walk, Norris was caught at short by Davis and a perfect bunt by Ashlee Peterson got her on base and Mayes around to third who was brought home by a two base hit to Cutting and moved Peterson to third. A great hit to the outfield by K. Pash brought Peterson home and moved Cutting to third when time and game were called with Strath being the required seven runs ahead by the sixth inning. Strathalbyn coming out on top 8 runs to Hills Heat Masters 1 and heading to the Preliminary final on Friday night.