Firestars light up
29 October 2011
New South Wales Firestars remain undefeated in this year’s Gilley’s Shield and Edebone-Weber Shield after wins today against Queensland Heat, ACT Diamonds and the Victorian Titans.
The Firestars started the day against the Heat in what is usually a tight encounter. Today was no exception with the game requiring a tie-breaker after both teams were locked at two runs apiece following the seventh inning. Firestars were first at bat in the eighth and Katherine McVeity advanced to third care of a Sam Poole sacrifice bunt. McVeity was then batted in from a Kara Murphy single to put all the pressure on the Heat going into the bottom of the eighth. The Heat answered straight back scoring a run themselves to tie up the game. The Firestars were on the front foot with Bree Brooker hitting a single allowing Amy Hayes to move to third. The big hitting Stacey Porter was next at bat and was walked leaving the Firestars with bases loaded. Stacey McManus stepped up to the plate hitting a single to the outfield, to score both Brooker and Hayes and Porter also got home on the same play from a fielding error. The Firestars held the Heat in their last bat to win 6-3.
In the Firestars second game they overcame ACT Diamonds who were searching for their second win of the round. The Firestars fought out the game well with their defensive pressure restricting the Diamonds scoring potential. The Firestars won the game 3-0 scoring all three of their runs in the third innings. In their third and final game of the day the Firestars resumed their rain affected game from day one against the Victorian Titans. The Firestars easily accounted for the Titans winning by the run-a-head rule 8-1, highlighted by a huge homerun to 2011 Rookie of the Year Sam Poole.
In other games today the SA Starz notched up their first win of the Championship defeating the New Zealand White Sox. Rescheduled to this morning due to rain on day 1 the Starz went into the game knowing this was a great chance to get off on the right foot. Assisted by the pitching of Vanessa Stokes the Starz were able to hold the White Sox scoreless with their sole run coming off the bat of Sophie King batting in Lana Kaesler to win 1-0.
The Western Flames continued their charge winning both of their games today, first against the Starz 5-0 and then against the Diamonds 8-2. After getting off to a slow start they found themselves two runs behind the Diamonds at the top of the fourth. They found their answers through the experienced Verity Long-Droppert, Chelsea Forkin and Christina Kreppold to hit the lead. The onslaught continued scoring a further three runs in the fifth and another two in the final innings to win 8-2.
Photo care of Neil Medland Photography http://www.neilmedland.com.au/
