A GRADE
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In the top of the table clash between the Cougars and the Outlaws, the Cougars took advantage of some sloppy fielding and wayward pitching to put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning.
However, the Armidale outfit had other ideas and took to their opponents from 'play ball' with 10 hitters heading to the plate in the first inning and six runs being scored.
They repeated the dose in the 3rd inning and led 13-2 as the injured Kris Bird (77 pitches, 2 K, 17 H, 3 BB) and part-time hurler Scott Hurn (27 pitches, 8 H) could not stop the procession of hits (a match total of 25) and runs coming in.
Multiple hit-getters included Brad Smith and Mick Alldis with four, Cam Beat, Masa Suzuki, Josh Shaw and Aiden Lee with three, Liam Garty and Luke Turner with two and a single to Cali Jordan.
Brock Ridgewell and Trent Ashen with two hits each were the best at the plate for the Cougars. For the Outlaws, Mick Alldis threw six innings (108 pitches, 9 K, 9 H, 3 BB) and Brad Smith closed out the game in the seventh (17 pitches, 2 K).
The final scoreline of 15-5 was very pleasing for coach Josh Shaw who was full of praise for the team’s focus on playing the full game out and maintaining the pressure on their Tamworth rivals.
"We had a really solid performance from all our guys at the plate accumulating an amazing 25 'Armidale hits', coupled with the excellent pitching we have come to expect from Alldis and Smith. You can't ask for much more as a coach," Shaw said.
No report was submitted for the Warriors-Gunnedah match.
B GRADE
In a game that shouldn't have got away from the Outlaws – after jumping out to an early 7-0 lead – the Warriors players dug deep and scored in each of their final three innings to claim a walk off 8-7 victory over the Armidale team.
Close games seem to follow these two teams and it was a game of two halves.
The hit count was 8-7 in favour of the Outlaws, but James Ardill was able to come into the game and effectively shut down the Armidale hitters in the fourth and fifth inning, only allowing the one hit and striking out two hitters.
Both starting pitchers, Valli Orcher (Warriors) and Shane Wolfenden (Outlaws) came up against some good B grade hitters and with a bit more consistency will develop their craft.
Best hitters for the Warriors were Brendon Allen (2 hits/ 4 RBI) James Ardill (2 hits/ 3 RBI) and John Seeck (2 hits) while the Outlaws were best served by Shane Wolfenden, Ryan Searle and Manbir Rooprai with two hits each.
Gunnedah scored a 9-0 walkover win over Cavaliers.