With an unseasonably high amount of players unavailable it was a tough time of the season to draw the reigning premiers. Bianca Smith battling with illness took the ball to start the game and was electric. Filling up the zone B got us through the first giving up just one run whilst keeping her pitch count low. Jenna Handy filling in temporarily at third base with a nice play on a line drive helped give the early momentum our way.
Handy led off the first with an infield single before taking second base. Sarah McMahon with some situational hitting moved Handy to third on a ground out. Alice Prokopec with another infield single before Jenny Dunn scored our first run. After a wild pitch advanced the runners Bianca Smith drove in Prokopec with a single to left field before Jenny Dunn scored on a fielders choice ground out. After a walk to Jacqui Dunn, debutant Fiona Crabb drove a pitch to left field, driving in our fifth run of the inning.
Bianca Smith took care of the Rangers in order in the second inning – a strong double play on a soft line drive to Prokopec helping the cause. We added another run in the second after Jo-Anna Kenney reached second on a wild throw from a ground ball to short stop, three hits later to Handy, McMahon and Jenny Dunn kept the pressure on but with some strong defensive work by Gawler mixed in we couldn’t add on further.
Gawler took advantage of a tiring pitcher and some defensive miscues to score four in the third with Prokopec relieving Smith to finish the inning – a great start by Bianca in trying circumstances. Gawler’s starter had settled into the game having their first shutdown inning and as light started to fade we went into the fourth inning, up 6-5.
Five hits in the inning (only two leaving the infield) contributed to a strong offensive inning with the fifth run of the inning scoring on a comebacker to Handy who relieved Prokopec late. With light fading quickly we were chasing four in the bottom of the inning. Handy led off the inning with a strong at bat before eventually flying out on a good catch to left field. With the light fading the ladies showed great patience working three consecutive walks to load the bases, before we scored a run on an error by the shortstop. With the bases loaded and just the one out we’ll never know what could have happened as the game was called as light failed us and the score reverted to a 6-5 Glenelg victory.
A great team victory with a number of ladies playing at less than 100% and no bench available. Many thanks to the newest members of our GBC family who filled in to assist our Division 2 team who had another strong win themselves against Gawler 15-6. Emily Parker and Alex Meldrum pitched fantastically to first time catcher Erin Harris. Erin drew rave reviews from coaches Qualmann and Jones and is showing real utility ability early this season.
Good hitting all round as the ladies scored the maximum in every inning they hit. Our division 2 ladies head to Adelaide this week whilst Division 1 play Golden Grove at home.