Softball stars return to the diamond

Softball returned to Casey on the weekend after a shorter than usual Christmas break. 233828 Pictures: ROB CAREW

Casey Softball returned to the diamond a few weeks earlier than normal from the Christmas break this year due to a delayed start to the season.

Another Covid curve ball has been thrown the club’s way but it still managed to get all but two of its teams back on the diamond.

Starting off the day was the ‘Under 16 Fully Loaded Competition’ between the two Cobras teams – Maroon and U16D.

Cobras U16D had a steady start with five runs in each of the first and second innings, with Maroon starting slow – just one in the first and then a more productive 10 in the second, making it 11-10 after two.

U16D shut out the Maroons in the bottom of the third innings, then came from behind by scoring two runs to snatch a thrilling 12-11 win.

Jordan Hill was best for the U16D team and Ryan Berkelmans best for the Maroons.

Unfortunately, the Under-13 competition was hardest hit by Covid.

However, there were enough players to make two full sides, so they all mixed together and had a very fun practise match. Hopefully next weekend all sides will be back to full strength.

The first of the Women’s Social games was played between Cranbourne Comets and the Narre Warren Penguins.

Both teams came out swinging with three to the Comets in the first innings and 10 to the Penguins. The pitchers gained some control after that with one run a piece in the second, then nil all in the third, and then two to the Comets in the fourth.

The Penguins strong start saw them win 11-6.

Best for the Penguins was Ros Cooke and Emily Lever for the Comets.

The second Social Women’s game was a run feast between Cobras and MVPs.

Cobras started steady with four runs in the first, but MVPs then flew out of the boxes with a massive 13 runs in reply.

Cobras got their bats going with eight runs to one in the second, making it 14-12 in MVPs favour after two innings.

A tight third by both teams only saw one more run scored, and MVPs winning a tight one 15-12.

Best for MVP’s was Karen Thomson and Ava Harrison for the Cobras.

The Open Men contest saw Cranbourne take on the Comets with teams playing one short to make the playing field level.

The game was tight for the first two innings seeing Cranbourne up 2-1.

Cobras were then able to string a few hits together in the third scoring four runs. Two evenly matched teams played out a thrilling 5-3 run win to the Cobras.

Best for Cranbourne was Heath Lewis and for the Cobras Chris Black.

Finally, the Open Women’s ‘Fully Loaded’ teams took to the diamond, seeing Berwick Comanches take on Doveton Destroyers.

A highly entertaining game had everything, with great fielding and good team batting from both sides.

Young Destroyer Ava Harrison took a fabulous outfield catch covering a lot of ground to catch the ball in centre/right, and Comanches Emily Lever was hitting well and bringing in runs.

A great game saw Comanches win 14-10.