Softball: Competition tight as upsets continue

Ellis Park Maroon batter Andrew Melville takes a swing at a pitch during his team's game against...
Ellis Park Maroon batter Andrew Melville takes a swing at a pitch during his team's game against Ellis Park Gold at Ellis Park on Saturday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
You win one, you lose one. That about sums up the men's premier grade this season.

After eight games just seven points separate the field with all five teams seemingly capable of beating each other.

Dodgers demonstrated how tight the league is when they upset Cardinals 4-3 in the opening game this weekend.

Dodgers scored fours runs in the first three innings with Ross Familton, Brendan Taylor, Hoani Iva-Keen and Cameron Watts all scoring. Cardinals responded through a Crete Whaanga homer at the top of the third and got within striking distance when Steve Willis whacked a two-run homer in the sixth.

Dodgers pitcher Ben Watts struck out Richard Hunt and Boe Carlson to help seal the win.

Cardinals bounced back in their second match, beating Saints 4-3 to remain at the top of the competition table.

The game was tied 3-3 but Saints pitcher Sam Jones gave up a walk with the bases loaded at the bottom of the seventh.

Whaanga took the stroll to home base to complete the victorySaints had earlier beaten Ellis Park Maroon 9-4 thanks to an eight-run scoring blitz at the bottom of the second.

Jones batted in two runs with a triple and Lachlan Brensell got to third with a nice hit. His triple saw Jamie Jones, Michael O'Neill and Tim Howard score.

Ellis Park Maroon won the interclub fixture beating Ellis Park Gold 10-5 in the other game.

Alex Aerakis got the scoring under way for Maroon in the second innings with a homer. Maroon scored three runs in the second, two in the third, fifth and sixth and a single in the fourth inning in a dominant performance.

Gold registered six hits, which was plenty, but paid the price for some costly errors.


Premier men:
Competition table

• Cardinals - 24
• Saints - 20
• Ellis Park Maroon - 19
• Ellis Park Gold - 19
• Dodgers - 17


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