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

Hahndorf came up to bat first and had safe hits to Zoe Young, Nicola Zobel and three base hits to Georgia King and Amanda “Reggie” Fairley which pushed runners around and brought home three runs before Strath, playing one person short, could make two outs at first and a catch by second baser Kathryn “Buttsy” Milne to end the innings. Strath came in to bat for the first time but could not get anyone on to base with Zobel playing well receiving two balls cleanly at first and then fielding and playing her own base to send Strath from the diamond scoreless.

The second batting dig for Hahndorf had a safe hit to Kiera Trevorrow but they could not convert to runs as Strath worked hard in the field with short stop Crystal Karayiannis and second baser Milne both fielding cleanly and throwing to Kelly Roe at first base for two outs with Strath’s pitcher/catcher combo of Tessa Norris to Kim Cutting making a K2 for the third out to end the innings. Strath were determined to get on to base and convert and had hits to Emily Eglitis and Roe but Hahndorf were on top in the field with a K2 to pitcher Tahlia Larosa, a catch at centre field by Nancy Johns and a catch taken by Larosa to hold them scoreless.

Hahndorf’s third batting dig started with a home run to King and another three-base hit to Fairley but King was the only runner to make it home with Karayiannis making two catches at shortstop and Norris fielding and throwing to first sending them from the diamond. Strath’s third turn at bat again was short with Hahndorf’s shortstop Young fielding and making two outs at first and also taking a catch for a three up/three down innings.

Strathalbyn fought back in Hahndorf’s fourth turn at bat with a three up/three down innings with Cutting taking a catch, left fielder Tash Mayes taking a catch and another out at first ending the innings. Strath had hits to Milne and Eglitis but they were unable to get around the diamond and make it home with two K2’s and an out at first stopping them.

A safe hit to Larosa got her on base for Hahndorf and then a two-base hit to Zobel brought her home before Karayiannis took another catch at shortstop and Eglitis took two in the outfield to end the innings and hold them to just one more run. Strath had a three base hit to Norris, a hit to Milne and a walk to Britt Jackson but were unable again to convert with an out at first, a catch by Zobel and another catch to Larosa to end the innings and the game. Scores were Hahndorf 5 to Strathalbyn 0.

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

On a hot day Strathalbyn were up to bat first but could not get on to base or convert with Echunga’s pitcher Jodie Karayiannis taking a catch, getting a K2 with catcher Ella Playford and a catch taken at centre field by Tilly Lovelock ending the innings. Echunga had a three base hit to Sophia Dvorak but could not bring anyone home with Strath’s pitcher Amy Bailey taking a catch, right fielder Amy Roker also taking a catch and short stop Rebecca Sims fielding and throwing to first baser Kelly Roe to send them from the diamond scoreless.

Strath’s second batting dig was also short even though they got a batter on base with another catch to Karayiannis and second baser Kiara McInnes fielding and tagging the passing runner and then quickly throwing to first base for the third out and a double play. The second dig for Echunga produced bunts to Karayiannis and Lovelock, a walk to Margaret Jarrett and a three base hit to Eliza Lovelock bringing home three runs before Strath’s Sims fielded and threw to Roe at first who then quickly threw to catcher Rebekah Mayes for a tag out at home for a double play and Sims again throwing to first for the third out of the innings.

Strathalbyn started their third turn at bat well with a hit to Mayes who worked her way around the diamond to eventually steal home with a slide, walks to Annabel McGregor, Roker and Heidi Samuel to load the bases and Sims with a huge hit to left field bringing everyone home with a Grand Slam for a total of five runs for the innings with Echunga making another catch and two outs at first to send them from the diamond. Echunga had safe hits to Felicity McInnes, K.McInnes, T and E Lovelock and Bree Elliott to bring home five runs with Strath making two K2’s and another out at first by Sims fielding well again to end the innings.

Strath were held scoreless in their fourth dig even with a walk to Mayes and a safe hit to Roe with Echunga’s new pitcher/catcher combo of F.McInnes to Elliott working well together for three K2’s to send them from the diamond. Strath also had a change of pitcher with Sims now taking the stripe and Echunga had safe hits to F.McInnes, K.McInnes, Karayiannis, Elliott, Playford and Dvorak pushing runners around the diamond and bringing six home to add to the tally with Strath’s new shortstop Kelly Townsend fielding and throwing to third baser Nicole Filsell for the first out, an infield fly as the second and another out at first ended the innings.

Strathalbyn came in to bat for the fifth time and had a safe hit to Townsend with Echunga again fielding well with a catch at centre field by T.Lovelock, another K2 and a put out at first base ending the innings and the game as time was called. Final scores for the game were Echunga 14 to Strathalbyn 5.