MARK’S WRAP UPS -WOMEN’S D1 - ROUND 8

12 Dec

Division 1 Women 1DEC24 BY MARK MCGARRY
PICS FROM SUZETTE DOYLE - SOUTHERN DISTRICTS

Woodville 4 @ Henley & Grange 10

Sturt 16 @ Glenelg 4

Adelaide 6 @ Southern Districts 5

Round 8 of Division 1 Women’s Baseball delivered two giant upsets as the race for a place to challenge the all-conquering Sturt Saints hotted up, whilst the juggernaut pushed their lead to 3 games clear on top. Headlining the day were key wins to Adelaide down South at Peregrine Park and bottom placed Henley & Grange shocked Woodville at West Lakes Shore whilst the rampant Saints dismantled the Tigers at the Bay.

It was a day of complete dominance from the visiting Saints out hitting Glenelg 8 to 5, scoring 16 runs (15 of which were batted in) to 4 and drawing 14 free passes (10 walks and 4 hit batters) whilst giving away only 4 themselves (3 walks and a hit batter). The fact that the mercy rule was invoked with just 2 outs in the fourth inning simply reinforced the nature of the result. Offensively, 6 batters recorded hits and every batter in the lineup provided at least 1 run batted in. Jenny Dunn leading off was superb racking up 3 hits and recording 2 runs batted in, Lucy Davis pounded the zone from the mound and the ball from the plate recording 3 runs batted in from her hit, followed by Charlotte Lightbody, Chantal Keats and Lauren Jury who all recorded 2 runs batted in to go with their hit and Georgia Davis with an RBI. Bree Ridding, Elisa Gooley and Sakura Collins had the distinction of registering runs batted in without recording a hit. Defensively it was Lucy Davis’ turn to pitch the lights out, she went the 4 innings played giving up 5 hits without an earned run, walking 3 and hitting a batter whilst striking out three opponents and collected the win.

For the Tigers the reading was much more sobering with Rebecca Saville leading the way with 2 hits for 2 runs batted in and only Rebecca Hammond recording a hit and an RBI. Jenna Handy and Sophie Wells also recorded hits. Georgia Kaluza registered an RBI without recording a hit. Defensively it was understandably tough for Peyton Manning to take the Loss when her 1 and 2/3 innings gave up just the 2 hits and only 1 earned run (5 unearned hurt) registering 3 strikeouts but surrendering 6 free passes. Rebecca Saville came on for an inning of relief and held the Saints hitless – albeit that they still scored 2 earned runs (and another 5 unearned) on 8 free passes (4 walks and 4 hit batters – ouch!!) whilst striking out 2 Saints batters. Kylie Lok pitched the final inning and was hammered for 6 hits and 3 earned runs in recording a single strikeout.

Henley & Grange Rams welcomed the Woodville Senators to West Lakes and promptly handed them a stark reminder that the gap between the chasing pack is not so wide when the fresh to Division 1 Rams can exert themselves to record a significant result in the context of this season and giving themselves a chance to remain in contention for that coveted spot in the post-season. Pria Bholonat leading off was in fine form scoring from each visit she made to the plate recording 2 hits and a walk. Batting her in was Elyse Dolman whose two hits resulted in 2 runs batted in whilst also managing to score herself. Tayla Oates was also effective picking up 2 runs batted in to go with her hit. Cariad Edwards batted a run in with her hit and Jamie Stott worked an RBI without recording a hit. Defensively, the Rams were led by Maxine Saunders who took the Win in pitching 3 and 2/3 innings for just the 1 hit and allowing 4 earned runs to cross the plate. Unusually both teams were very generous in handing each other 9 free passes, each giving up 6 walks and each hitting 3 batters and Saunders was responsible for all of these. Rebecca Bellette came on to record the final out with conceding a hot or a run.

For the Senators, it was a dirty day at the plate with Alice Brown recording the only hit of the day with a run and an RBI. Amara Quinn, Carly Moore (celebrating her 200th senior game) and Dakota Ding all crossed the plate with recording hits. RBIs from Alice Morrison and Beth Lee all contributed to a frustrating day. On defense it was Amara Quinn who took the loss pitching 2 and 1/3 innings conceding 5 hits for 6 earned runs, walking 4 and striking out 1. Darna Boers-Veen came on in relief and her 1 and 2/3 innings resulted in 2 hits and 3 earned runs whilst issuing 5 free passes (2 walks and 3 hit batters) and striking out 3 Rams hitters.

Without doubt the matchup of the round for the second week in a row featured the Southern Districts Hawks this time hosting the Adelaide Angels at Peregrine Park. Given their strong form in losing to Sturt the previous weekend, supporters had every reason to expect a strong showing against the Angels, but it was the Angels that burst out the blocks knocking out starter Sarah Short in just the second inning. It was this break that ultimately proved the difference as the storming Hawks were unable to chase down enough runs to bridge the gap late when they put Angels’ reliever Regan O’Rielley under intense pressure before eventually succumbing by the narrowest of margins.

For the winning Angels it was Regan O’Rielley with 2 hits, Angela Mourtzios with 2 hits and a run batted in who led Ashlee Mead with a hit and an RBI, Isabella Hacker with a hit and 2 runs batted in, Monica Majcen had a hit and Sophie Fuchs recorded an RBI without recording a hit. Sienna Thiele started on the mound and took the Win in pitching 3 Innings giving up 3 hits and just the 1 earned run conceding 2 walks and striking out 2. As alluded to previously, Regan O’Rielley recorded the Save with her 2 innings giving up 3 hits and 2 earned runs (plus two unearned runs), walking 2 batters and striking out 2.

For the Hawks it was a day of frustration with only Jess Maslin’s 2 hits doing any damage, but in vain as her 4 runs batted in still left Souths with a single run deficit. Hayley Barnes recorded a hit and an RBI, with Deb Hutchings, Sarah Short and Kate Cunningham also recording hits. Sarah Short took the Loss in starting on the mound and throwing 1 and 1/3 innings conceding 6 hits and 5 earned runs walking 1 and striking out 1 batter. Wendy Backman came on in relief and went 3 and 2/3 innings for just the 1 hit and 1 earned run but issuing 6 free passes (5 walks and a hit batter) in striking out 3 batters.

Stats for this week’s games:

Adelaide 6: Hits (6) – O’Rielley (2), Mourtzios (2) (RBI), Mead (RBI), Hacker (2 RBI), Majcen

Pitching: S.Thiele (W) (3 Inns, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)

R.O’Rielley (S) (2 Inns, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2K)

South 5: Hits (6) – Maslin (2) (4 RBI), Hutchings, Short, Barnes (RBI), Cunningham

Pitching: S.Short (L) (1 1/3 Inns, 5 ER, 5 BB, 1 K)

W.Backman (3 2/3 Inns, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 HPB, 3 K)

Woodville 4: Hits (1) – A.Brown

Pitching: A.Quinn (L) (2 1/3 Inns, 5 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K)

D.Boers-Veen (1 2/3 Inns, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB 4 HPB, 3 K)

Henley 10: Hits (7) – Bholonat (2), Dolman (2) (2 RBI), Oates (2 RBI), Edwards (RBI), Rose

Pitching: M.Saunders (W) (3 2/3 Inn, 1 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 HPB, 3 K)

R.Bellette (1/3 Inns, 0 H, 0ER)

Sturt 16: Hits (8) – Dunn (3) (2 RBI), G.Davis (RBI), Lightbody (2 RBI), L.Davis (3 RBI)

Keats (2 RBI), Jury (2 RBI)

Pitching: L.Davis (W) (4 Inns. 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K)

Glenelg 4: Hits (5) – Saville (2) (2 RBI), Hammond (RBI), Handy, Wells

Pitching: P.Daniels (L) (1 2/3 Inns, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 3 K),

R.Saville (1 Inn, 0 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 HPB, 2K)

K.Lok (1 Inn, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K)

League Ladder @ Round 8

W - L Points

1.Sturt 7 – 0 14

2.Southern Districts 4 – 3 8

3.Woodville 4 – 3 8

4.Adelaide 3 – 4 6

5.Kensington 2 – 4 4

6.Glenelg 2 – 5 4

7.Henley & Grange 2 – 5 2

TWILIGHTS

Division 1 Women 4 DEC 24

Sturt 11 @ Woodville 10

South 9 @ Glenelg 5

Kensington 8 @ Henley & Grange 10

Round 9 of Division 1 Women’s Baseball saw the first of the mid-week fixtures that threw up three very close games, with the Woodville Senators coming within a run of the all-conquering Sturt Saints being the highlight of the evening at Findon. At the Bay, Glenelg welcomed the Hawks in a tight affair that Souths eventually won and the Henley & Grange Rams welcomed Kensington to West Lakes and held on for a vital win. It was an evening dominated by offense in most games and the teams that can hold the tighter rein on issuing free bases or hitting batters are usually in the best position.

At Glenelg this was exactly the case as South maintained their plate discipline to draw no less than 14 free passes from Tigers’ pitching in the form of 9 walks and 5 hit batters and where 8 runs were batted in on only 3 hits. By contrast the Glenelg offense outhit their Southern counterparts but were issued only 7 free passes (6 walks and a hit batter) in recording 5 hits and 4 runs batted in. For Souths the story was not so much the hits from Jess Maslin, Mabel Parr-Gahan and Hayley Barnes, rather, a look at the walks and hit batters column and runs batted in highlights just where the Hawks were able to win the game. All but one batter recorded a walk or were hit by pitch and Parr-Gahan led the RBIs with 2. Defensively Jess Maslin started on the mound and her 2 Innings gave up 4 hits and 4 earned runs, earning a strikeout and issuing 5 free passes (4 walks and a hit batter). Sarah Short took over and claimed the Win with 2 innings that yielded just the single hit, no runs and a strikeout whilst conceding the single free pass.

For the Tigers it was Payton Daniels leading the way with 2 hits and an RBI, with Sophie Wells, Erin Harris and Georgia Kaluza all getting a hit and an RBI.

Peyton Daniels started on the mound and her 2 innings yielded only 2 hits and 2 earned runs whilst striking out 5 batters. She issued 4 free passes (3 walks and a hit batter). Jacquie Dunn came on in relief and picked up the Loss with her single out yielding 6 earned runs from 0 hits but 8 free passes (4 walks and 4 hit batters). Rebecca Saville stepped up in relief pitching an inning for just the 1 hit, 0 runs and 2 walks in striking out 2 batters.

Henley & Grange Rams welcomed the Kensington Cardinals to West Lakes and put on an exciting offensive showing collecting 14 hits on the evening and restricting Kensington to just 4 hits. Problematically for the Rams a generous 13 free passes (11 walks and 2 hit batters) kept the Cardinals interested and the result was tighter than Ram supporters needed to endure.

Elyse Dolman and Kassandra Rose led the way at the plate with 3 hits and an RBI each, Jamie Stott’s 2 hits resulted in 3 runs being batted in, Maxine Saunders’ 2 hits yielded 2 runs batted in, Cariad Edwards and Danielle Higgs’ 2 hits both resulted in Runs batted in. A final total of 10 runs from 14 hits, 9 of which were batted in is hugely complimentary to the Rams approach at the plate. Defensively, it was a wild ride with Tayla Oates starting on the hill and pitching 3 innings of 0 hits and 0 earned runs striking out 6 batters and conceding 6 free passes (all walks) just enough to give her the Win on the night. Cariad Edwards had Ram hearts in their mouths with 2 innings of relief that gave up the 4 hits and 7 earned runs, striking out 2 batters but conceding 7 free passes (5 walks and 2 hit batters).

For the Cardinals it was youngster Ruby Pfitzner who hit and batted 2 runs in with Maddy Walpole and Elly Tucker getting hits and an RBI each. Ella Tok also recorded a hit. It was the Walks and Hit Batters columns which provided most of the scoring interest for Kensis with virtually the entire lineup recording at least 1 free pass, reflecting excellent plate discipline.

It was Elly Tucker all the way on the mound taking the Loss from her 4 innings that yielded 14 hits and 7 earned runs where she struck out 3 batters and gave up just the single free pass – a walk.

The classic matchup of the evening saw the Woodville Senators take the game right up to the reigning champion and undefeated Sturt Saints when they welcomed them to Findon.

Statistically it was a very tight game with Sturt scoring their 11 runs from 11 hits, 8 of which were batted. Not far behind them, the Senators scored 10 runs from 7 hits, 5 of which were batted in. Tellingly it was the Saints plate discipline that allowed the difference in the game to come down to drawing 8 free passes (all walks) and conceding just the 1!

For the Saints Jenny Dunn was outstanding collecting 3 hits and an RBI, whilst Charlotte Lightbody picked up 2 hits and 2 runs batted in, Chantal Keats had 2 hits and an RBI. Single hits to each of Bianca Ramsey, Georgia Davis, Lucy Davis (2 RBI) and Julie Wadham (RBI) rounded out the hitting. Sakura Collins drew 3 walks and Elyse Gooley 2 to lead a crowded stats column.

Georgia Davis steamrolled to the Win throwing a complete game over 5 innings, conceding 7 hits for 5 earned runs striking out 5 and conceding just the single walk

For the gallant Senators it was a big night for Indie O’Hazy-Zschorn who collected 3 hits, scored 3 runs and pitched in relief for an inning conceding just a single hit and a walk for no earned runs. Beth Lee had 2 hits and was credited with 4 runs batted in and Alice Brown also picked up 2 hits.

Alice Brown led off on the mound and took the Loss with her 3 innings conceding 6 hits, 7 runs (2 earned) and walking 5 whilst striking out 3 batters. Coming on in relief was Dakota Ding whose 1 inning conceded 4 hits and 4 earned runs whilst dishing out 3 walks before O’Hazy-Zschorn threw the final dig.

Stats for Wednesday’s games:

South 9: Hits (3) – Maslin (RBI), Parr-Gahan (2RBI), Barnes

Pitching: J.Maslin (2 Inns, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 1 HPB, 1 K)

S.Short (W) (2 Inns, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1K)

Glenelg 5: Hits (5) – Daniels (2) (RBI), Wells (RBI), E.Harris (RBI), Kaluza (RBI)

Pitching: P.Daniels (2 Inns, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5K)

J.Dunn (L) (1/3 Inns, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4HPB)

R.Saville (1 Inns, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K)

Sturt 11: Hits (11) – Dunn (3) (RBI), Lightbody (2) (2 RBI), Keats (2) (RBI), Ramsey, G.Davis, L.Davis (2 RBI), Wadham (RBI)

Pitching: G.Davis (W) (5 Inns, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)

Woodville 10: Hits (10) – O’Hazy-Zschorn (3), A.Brown (2), Lee (2) (4 RBI)

Pitching: A.Brown (L) (3 Inns, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)