Back to action after the mid season break and we headed to Diamond Sports (West Beach) against the ladies from Flinders University.
Offensively we set the tone early with the first 6 hitters all reaching base safely showing patience taking walks and hit by pitches and mixing in a couple of singles and another hard hit ball. Scoring four before our starting pitcher Bianca Smith even took to the mound is always pleasing.
Working around the first two hitters reaching base, Bianca settled down to retire the opposition on a infield fly and consecutive ground outs to second base (4-3).
We took advantage of the opposition pitches wildness in the second with 3 walks and a dropped third strike haunting Flinders as it left two runners on with only 1 out when Gemma Cassidy hit a crushing double to deep left field score both Emily Pyke and Jenna Handy with the inning ending due to the 5 run mercy rule.
Bianca struck out the first hitter before Flinders got a sniff of momentum with the next three reaching on singles bunched around a hit by pitch however Bianca was able to induce a fly ball to left field that Gemma Cassidy was able to catch and double off the runner at second to end the inning.
Bianca led off the inning with a nice double to right field before scoring on Nat Ziersch’s RBI single. Ziersch was able to steal second and Sam Ferguson showed some great situational hitting moving Nat to third and reaching base herself before April Grava scored Nat with an RBI single of her own. Unfortunately the inning ended on a line drive catch by the pitcher off the bat of Adele Munro-Chambers who had no luck from the baseball gods after hitting the ball hard twice right at the pitcher on the day.
As we went to field in the bottom of the first Jordy Heidt got her season debut in the outfield after taking care of business at first base for the last few weeks, with Adele Munro-Chambers taking over at first. Flinders were able to push across a run in the third after a one out single and a wild pitch put a runner into scoring position. Bianca finished the inning and her outing with another strong strike out.
Going into the fourth inning with time expiring Jenna Handy led off with her second single of the day before Gemma Cassidy took hold of another fastball beating the left fielder who had already responded to her previous blast by playing back, with the ball landing for another booming double and scoring Handy. Whilst threatening further loading the bases we were unable to push across any more runs.
With Bianca’s strong outing in the books we had an opportunity to give Jojo Papadothomakos her debut on the mound. Jojo had a strong outing mixing in 2 strikeouts whilst giving up only the one unearnt run.
All said and done a great way to return after the break especially with a number of our team out with injuries and representative duties. We are back at the GBC this Friday against Port Adelaide on Diamond 1 – see you at the Bay!
