Hills Softball Association ‘A’ Grade Women (Strathalbyn v Hills Heat Masters)

After a mild night the previous Friday the teams shivered through the final game for the first half of the season with Masters up to bat first. They had a safe hit to Hantie Pretorious and a home run to Meg Chaplin to bring in two runs with Strath’s shortstop Kim Cutting making an out at first and Rebecca Sims taking two catches at left field to end the innings. Strath’s Cutting got on base but could not make it home as they were held scoreless in their first turn at bat with Masters making two outs at first and pitcher/catcher combo Kel O’Brien to Gab Martin getting a K2.

Strath held Masters scoreless in the second with Cutting recovering quickly after a misfield to make the out at first, fielding and throwing to Ashlee Peterson at third for the second and Sims again taking a catch at left field to send them from the diamond. Sims made a safe hit to the outfield in Strath’s second turn at bat but could not make it around the diamond with Masters centrefielder Mis Ausman taking a catch, another K2 and a catch taken at first by Julie Briggs to end the innings.

Masters added seven runs to their tally with a safe hit to Kerry Wilkinson, two basers to Chaplin and Martin and a three baser to Pretorious with Cutting making another out at first, Peterson also making an out at first and new pitcher Emily Eglitis fielding and making the third out at first base. Strath had safe hits to Eglitis and Chloe Zakelj and a walk to Cutting to bring in two runs in their third batting dig with Masters making another K2 and catches taken at first and third to send Strath from the diamond.

The fourth turn at bat for Masters gained a further three runs and included a three base hit to Chaplin who was having a great game with the bat before Strathalbyn’s new pitcher Taminka Wilks fielded and threw to Cutting for an out at second who then quickly threw to Sims now at first for the double play and Cutting making the third out at first base. Rebekah Mayes had a big hit to centrefield to get her on base in Strath’s fourth batting dig but Masters second baser Kendall Langford took a catch, Pretorious now at shortstop threw to Langford to make an out at second and Langford making the third out at first base to hold Strath scoreless again.

Strath held Masters to two runs in the fifth with Cutting making another out at first, pitcher/catcher combo of Wilks to Mayes working well gaining Wilks’ first K2 in A grade and Peterson fielding and throwing from third to first to end the innings. Cutting, having a great game, had a two base hit to left field and stole home for the only run of Strath’s fifth innings with Masters making an out at second and two outs at first leaving Zakelj stranded on second base. Final scores for the game were Masters 12 defeated Strathalbyn 3.

Hills Softball Association ‘C’ Grade Women (Strathalbyn v Pirates)

In the last game before the Christmas break, Pirates came in to bat and had two base hits to Kerry Elliot and Tracey Pearce and safe hits to Krista Elliot, Charlene Klenke, Debbie Taylor and Leonie Beattie which all helped to bring in the full ten runs with Strath’s pitcher Rebecca Sims fielding and throwing to Jackie Marsh at first for the out and then combining with catcher Hannah Jones for a K2. Strath came in to bat and gained a walk to Annabel McGregor, safe hits to Jess Rumble, Jo Falkland and Marsh and a two base hit to Sims but could only bring two runners home with Pirates third baser Klenke taking a catch, making an out at first and then fielding and playing her base to be involved in all three outs to end Strath’s innings.

Pirates second turn at bat also produced ten runs with safe hits to Klenke, Kerry Elliot and Sue Stewart with a two baser to Stephanie Zuzolo with Strath’s fielders having to work hard in the field running down the balls but doing a great job especially being a player short with Rumble playing well at second base fielding and throwing to first for an out and then fielding and playing her base for the second. Strath’s second turn at bat was better with safe hits to Heidi Samuel, Jones, Sims and Marsh with Pirates making two outs at first and short stop Zuzolo taking a catch to end the innings and the game. Final scores were Pirates 20 defeated Strathalbyn 7.