By RICHARD MURRIHY
SUCCESS came on Saturday at Caboolture as Noosa Softball Club won one of the three grand finals it contested.
The Noosa Men’s side recorded a 8-4 win over the Budgie Smugglers in the final game of the day after strong performances by the 15s and 17s in the earlier matches.
The 15s started the day off at 8am with a see-sawing game that saw both teams in with a shot to the very end before Demons eventually won 5-4.
Noosa chose to field and the teams looked evenly matched finishing the first inning nil-all.
The second inning saw four walks, wild pitches and three passed balls with Demons scoring two while Noosa was again out for nil.
However Noosa responded keeping Demons from scoring while finding their batting groove with Dylan smacking a three-bagger and Jacob and Brayden joining him on bases.
Charles, Shinae and Riley all progressed the runners to get three in and Noosa were up 3-2 after three.
Scores levelled out in the fourth while the Demons slammed one to the fence in the fifth and to take the lead again.
The Demons were held to nil in the sixth while Shinai made home to equalise the game at four-all.
The Demons eventually came home to win 5-4 in a game befitting the quality of the season.
The 17s took on the Cavs in what ended up being another thriller.
Noosa got off to a flyer with Shinai, Lewis, Bree, and Jarryd – all three baggers and Riley a single – to give them four runs home before the Cavs came back with two.
Noosa unfortunately went scoreless in the second while the Cavs posted three to take a 5-4 lead which they extended by one in the third.
William took a good fly catch at first and Emma a good catch at second but it wasn’t enough with the Cavs 6-4 after three.
Noosa rallied bringing four runs on the back of two walks and a two bagger from Riley before holding the Cavs to one run with Josh taking another catch in the outfield.
The fifth dig was a quick affair with Noosa going three up three down as did the Cavs with William getting two outs at first and another assist from the shortstop.
A standalone home run got Josh on the board in the sixth taking Noosa to 9 -7 up.
However the Cavs brought two home two outs from short at first and a HBB to tie it nine-all.
Noosa were scoreless in the final inning with the Cavs getting a runner home to win by just one, 10-9.
With two losses from two finals the action switched to the men’s game with six of the players doubling up from the earlier game and one playing their third of the day.
Noosa fielded first and kept Budgie Smugglers one-all after the first innings and 3-1 to Budgies after the second with Josh taking his third catch.
By the end of the fourth, which was scoreless, Noosa were up 5-3 but Budgies got one home while Noosa was three up-three down to close the gap at the end of the fifth.
With Cody smashed by Carlos in the 6th with an overzealous tag out, tempers were looking frayed, before Noosa steadied the ship and got three runs and Noosa led 8-4 going into the seventh.
Karma is funny as Carlos tripped on the first baseman’s leg and ended up face down in the dirt, he got a base and everyone was smiling, he got to three and then head butted the ball when a play was on and was given out interference, a flick from Lewis to Coady saw the third out and Noosa won 8-4.
Well done to the Noosa teams on a great year and we will see you soon on the home paddock for summer season.
