Winning starts to season for Cardinals, Dodgers

William Hewett, of Cardinals, rounds first base as Old Boys fielder Reece Flawn looks on at Otago...
William Hewett, of Cardinals, rounds first base as Old Boys fielder Reece Flawn looks on at Otago club softball’s opening day at Ellis Park on Saturday. Photo: Linda Robertson
It was the two familiar teams that got their club seasons off to winning starts at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Cardinals claimed a 10-7 victory over Old Boys, while Dodgers beat Ellis Park 8-2 and backed up with a 17-2 win over Old Boys.

Old Boys rallied late in their early game, although it was not enough to overcome a Cardinals team that had led the entire way.

James Matheson and Lyall Scott opened the scoring for Cardinals in the first innings, before Old Boys made it 2-1 when Mark Ludlow crossed home plate.

Cardinals pitcher Mitchell Finnie added the first of his two runs in the third to extend the lead to 3-1.

William Hewett then added another in the fourth, before Finnie hit a home run to see himself and Will Bathgate take the score to 6-1.

At that point, Old Boys fought back as Jason Crosbie and Aaron Booth both reached base on balls and continued on to score.

However, Cardinals limited the damage and extended their lead when Matheson added a seventh run in the sixth.

Ben Moody, Tane Mercer and Simon Pilkington all got in on the action in the seventh, leaving Cardinals in control at 10-3.

Old Boys made a late run as Logan Cromb and Christian Amos scored, before a two-run RBI from Reece Flawn saw Dylan Brett and Nelson Yorston make it 10-7.

It was not enough though, as Finnie racked up the last of his 17 strikeouts to end the game.

Finnie was a stand out for Cardinals.

He managed hits from each of his four at bats, while finishing with three RBIs and a home run to his name. Moody had three hits, while Bathgate and Scott had two each.

For Old Boys, Flawn had 3 RBIs, while Yorston managed two hits.

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