Slow starts but exciting finishes

Slammers and Dodgesox in action at the Noosa Softball Grounds on Saturday.

Both the Under 15s and Under 13s got off to slow starts in junior softball games on Saturday 9 February, with players eventually warming up to provide some tense finishes.

In the Under 15s, excellent fielding by the DodgeSox in the first two innings kept Slammers to only one run.

Slammers held Dodgesox scoreless in the second innings then started to turn the game around, although trailing 5-1. In an incredible rally featuring single base hits from Naomi, Cam, Ashtan, Sam and Connor, a two-base hit from Ethan, a huge home run from Xander and a Grand Slam home run from Lachie, Slammers finished the innings in record time – four runs ahead.

DodgeSox came in and batted hard, including a big two-base hit from Aaron, getting four batters home. With scores tied at 9-all in the final innings, Coopa opened for Slammers with a great two-base hit, and Xander hit another huge home run, scoring himself and two others home. A good hit from Connor got himself and a teammate home, leaving Slammers having to declare at five over the plate, leading 14-9.

Unfortunately for DodgeSox, their batters fell in quick succession without scoring, thanks to some solid work from Xander at short stop, and other strong fielding by the team, giving Slammers the game.

In the Under 13s, after a slow start from both Slammers and Dodgesox, a flurry of activity in the third innings saw Slammers score five runs with consecutive three-base hits from Ashtan, Coopa and Sam, and great single base hits from Cam, Winter and Connor.

DodgeSox scored four runs with no outs due to great batting and base running from Tully, Sam, Levi and Nathan.

Then with two batters out and a runner on third, tensions were high as just one more run would give the game to Dodgesox. Pitcher Cam got two strikes on the batter, then snatched a catch at arm’s length to get the batter out before the runner could make it home – the game ended in a 7-all draw.

This was a perfect end to a great battle between the two teams, who both deserved to win.

Junior and senior softball is played every Saturday at the Noosa Softball Grounds in Tewantin – with mixed junior games also played in Little league and Under 10s. Look for Noosa Softball on Facebook or email secretary.noosasoftball@gmail.com