Softball: Thumpings for Cardinals

The Cardinals were brought down to earth with two heavy losses in club softball on Saturday.

They lost to Ellis Park (11-4) and then to the Saints (8-0), while in the other game, the Dodgers beat the Saints 5-2 to go top of the competition.

The Cardinals have played well this season but failed to get out of first gear on Saturday, losing both games by the mercy rule.

In the first game against Ellis Park, the Cardinals were immediately on the back foot, with Adam Whelan hitting a home run in the first inning to put his side three runs up.

Ellis Park scored another five runs in the second inning to go to a commanding 8-1 lead.

The Cardinals scored three runs in the fifth inning but Ellis Park then went further ahead and the match was called off at the end of the fifth inning.

Saints pitcher Sam Jones had a fine game, not conceding a hit in the three innings he pitched.

He was replaced by Tim Howard, who kept up the good work, conceding just one hit.

The Saints had a great second innings, scoring six runs, with Mike Crowley hitting a triple.

Travis McIntosh hit a homer to seal the win for the Saints in the third inning and the match was over at the end of the fifth inning.

In the last game of the day, the Dodgers scored three runs in the second inning to get a lead which it would never surrender against the Saints.

The Saints had scored a run in the first innings through Ben Foster, but it paid for walking a couple of players and a fielders' choice.

Young Dodgers pitcher Ben Watts combined with catcher Ricky Boebel to keep the Saints' bats quiet.

Jones scored a run in the fifth innings after hitting a triple but it was too little, too late for the Saints side.

New umpire Rebecca Taylor, from Dubai, officiated her first game on Saturday.