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| Match Report - Grand Final vs Pretenders |
| Freestylers 12 defeated Pretenders 4 |
| Relaxed, concerned, at ease, up tight, nervous, content, worried, and then finally the game gets started. That pretty much sums up the range of emotions during Saturday morning. More than any thing else, I knew this year was different. This year, we carried the burden of expectation, and I wondered to myself how the team would react. By the time the team had filtered in to the playing fields I just knew I need not have worried. Over the last couple of seasons we have really saved our best for the games that mattered the most, and the girls had their game faces on. The warm up was smooth, just as it had been two weeks ago in the major semi final. The team speech got at least one girl crying, but then again, Heather is not yet 2 years old, so we'll forgive her this once! Team selection decisions out of the way, a final hit up on the diamond and it was time for the toss. "Lucky" Nicki was supplanted for the toss for team captain Diana, who promptly lost. No luck there Diana. Never mind, we're pretty good at this batting first thing. False Start (in honour of Thorpy) First up was Kerryl, desperate to bunt. And bunt she did, successfully. That is, until the second base girl decided to get in her way on the sneak and we were one away. By the middle of the first we had scored two runs; not brilliant, not bad. It all comes down to the fielding. Usually does in fact. Then, with Kristie off to a flying start, and the fielders backing her up, including a nice catch by Vanessa, 2-0 at the bottom of the first looked just fine to me. Consolidation Batting again and a chance to consolidate our lead. Pretenders are traditionally good starters, or at least they have been of late, so we are looking pretty good. A tight call by the plate umpire ends our innings prematurely, but with two more runs to the good. Another excellent pitching performace from Kristie and some fine fielding once again keeps Pretenders scoreless. Not a big lead at this stage, but as Kristie takes a seat, her job with the ball is certainly done for the day. Bottom of the second, and the 'Stylers lead 4-0 The Big Dig The third innings and the game is blown open. And it comes in the form of Jenny Laughton. With runners on second and third Jenny steps to the plate. Jenny wants to hit to left field. Stuart tells her to hit to left field. I yell at her from third base to go strong (to hit to left field). I even mention to Flora, who is on third base, that now would be a good time for something special. Crack! The poor left fielder didn't stand a chance. The hard hit ball into left field yields a home run, that leads us to a 9-0 lead. A tight fielding effort will put this game squarely in our keeping for now. Flora comes on to pitch and picks up right where Kristie left off. This has really been a strong one, two punch for us in the latter part of the season. Pretenders on the board, but after three, we lead 9-1 Stride for Stride to the winning post Three more runs scored in this innings really gives us the chance to wrap the game up. Kylie and Nicki have taken a seat and their places are taken in the field by Merrill and Sarah. The team has been strong all round late in the season, making team changes seamless but difficult. Today is no different, there has been nothing but excellent performances all around. At this point in the game, Pretenders need seven runs in to give themselves a chance. They only get three, matching strides but making no ground. The game is really in our keeping now. After four innings, the score is now 12-4. Stop hiding Cath Cath has been telling me for two weeks that she doesn't mind spectating in these games. With only twelve in the batting line up at any one time and thirteen players in the team, there would always be a tough decision to make. With the folding of the Sirens team from last season, Cath's determination to keep playing saw us take her under our wing, and she is twice the player she was at the start of the season. Cath's selfless act is what team sport is all about, but there was no way she wasn't getting a run in this game if it could be helped, and if she would stop hiding! Cath came in for Diana, who's spot in the next three batters had her sit down. To everyone's joy Cath got herself a hit as just reward. A pity we couldn't bring her home. By this time the fight had gone from Pretenders as they faced the inevitable. And the inevitabe came. Right from the start of the season we wanted nothing less than a win on this day. And with 5 minutes game time to play the umpires called time and game on season 2003/04 and the winners once again were the mighty Freshwater Freestylers. Congratulations ladies on a fantastic season. You are all better than a year ago and Stuart and myself could ask for nothing more. Hope you all come back next year. Rob. |