After a two week absence due to a heat out round and the league bye week on the Australia Day Long Weekend we returned to Diamond Sports (West Beach) to take on the Rams. Missing dynamic Dunn duo, Jasmine Williamson and Gemma Cassidy the ladies did a fantastic job relying on each other and producing one of our strongest complete outings for the season.
Leading off the top of the first inning Jane Ryan put pressure on the Rams immediately, taking first base on a walk before stealing second base. Adele Munro-Chambers embraced the situational hitting approach we have been working on for weeks and did a great job moving Jane to third base with a ground out. After Henley’s pitcher walked Handy who promptly stole second – giving Bianca Smith the prime opportunity to hit with two runners in scoring position and only one out. Bianca cashed in with both RBIs on a single to right field and we had our first lead of the night.
Not relaxing the pressure one bit Bianca took off to second on a steal attempt that got away from the catcher and Bianca kept on running going first to third on the play. April Grava like Adele earlier showed great situational awareness, driving in Bianca on a hard hit ground out that April almost beat out hustling down the line. With both Sam Ferguson and Emily Pyke both showing patience in taking their walks we threatened to score again before the inning ended with a hard hit ground out by Jessica Kelly.
Handing the ball to Bianca Henley and Grange managed to respond with a single run in their half of the first – aided by some tough conditions on defence with some high fly balls heavily influenced by the West Beach breeze and finding grass. Bianca took matters into her own hand to end the inning with consecutive strike outs and stamp out and momentum for the Rams.
Jordy Heidt led off the second for us – hitting a hard ground ball to shortstop and reaching base. Jordy quickly stole second base keeping the pressure on the Rams. JoJo Papadothomakos took one for the team before the Rams pitcher walked Jane Ryan to load the bases. Adele was unlucky hitting a hard ground ball back to the pitcher who was able to retire Heidt at home but good hustle from Adele ensured they couldn’t double her off at first keeping the bases loaded for Handy. Handy took a four pitch walk scoring Jojo before Bianca had her second hit of the night an RBI single to left field that scored Ryan. Some confusion on the basepaths saw the Rams retire Handy at second base and the inning was to end with no more runs troubling the scorers. Bays up 5-1.
Bianca mowed through the Rams in the bottom of the second mixing in another strike out and ending the inning on a double play on a soft fly ball back to herself – quickly doubling off the runner who had strayed too far off the base.
Heading into the third the inning we had been threatening to have all game arrived – Sam Ferguson led off with a line drive single over the head of the third. Emily Pyke took her second walk of the game and Jess Kelly kept the patience approach going reaching by walk as well. Jojo scored Sam with a fielders choice to short stop that was erred – leaving the bases loaded. Nat Ziersch entering the game for Adele scored Jess Kelly before Handy took her third walk of the game. Bianca took a hit by pitch off the foot scoring Papadothomakos before April Grava ended the inning with a great drive down the right field line scoring the remaining runs necessary for the 5 run inning mercy rule kicked in.
Heading into the bottom of the third we handed the ball to Pyke to close it out and after recording two quick outs the first a slick play at third by Ziersch and the second a strike out, the Rams showed their fight with three quick hits plating two runs. Not to be outdone Em closed it out herself fielding a soft ground ball and flipping to Bianca at first to end the inning.
With not enough time to start another inning that was all she wrote. A very good team win with contributions across the board. We have our final game at home this coming Friday vs Golden Grove at 6pm – we’d love to see you all there!
