The CPC Angels have taken a three point lead in Softball SA’s Fully Loaded Softball tournament following a dominant showing in round two on Thursday night.

Georgia Hood opened the night in her usual fashion smashing a grand slam home run over centerfield for the Angels in the opening game of the night to take a 4-0 lead over Emmsee Sportswear Thunder.

A two-run shot from Sophie Roberts piled the pressure on the Thunder who were 6-0 down following the first frame.

 

 

 

 

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The Angels continued the routing in the second piling on another six, their dangerous line-up working runners around efficiently for a commanding lead, when the Thunder threatened to close the gap with three quick runs, Ella Forester kept them in check with two crucial strikeouts to end the inning.

Faced with 11 runs to make up, Chelsea Robinson got the Thunder rolling bringing in two quick scores but it wasn’t enough as the Angels collected four competition points with a 16-9 win.

The Angels’ second game got off to a much more subdued start working themselves to a five run lead over Bob Burns Blinds Phoenix who were chasing their first points of the competition.

Olympian Bel White started the chase with a double to left field to open their account as the Phoenix offence added four runs to keep it close into the second.

Runs kept coming for the Angels and the Phoenix were faced with eight runs to make up in the bottom of the third but couldn’t close the gap giving the Angels eight total points for round two with a 13-5 win.

Game three of round three was a low scoring but historic affair with format’s first ever tie breaker at the elite level.

The Thunder took a 5-2 lead over the Phoenix courtesy of five strikeouts in a row for Steph Trzcinski.

The Phoenix then swooped to rack up three quick runs to tie the game at 5-5 with one out, the Thunder struck again with two outs to force the first tie-breaker in Softball SA’s Fully Loaded Tournament.

In a tie-breaker situation, each team starts with two outs and bases loaded with the batting team allowed to choose their starting batter, the inning then continues with the line-up remaining as submitted prior to the game.

Thunder elected to start with Travelodge Aussie Spirit squad member Chelsea Robinson who was two-for-two at the box in the game, Millie Fidge took to the pitching circle for the Phoenix.

Robinson immediately took the advantage with a three-run double reaching third on an error for an 8-5 lead at the end of the top of the fourth.

White stepped up to the box for the Phoenix and was walked by Trzcinski putting the pressure on Taylor Chillingworth down 8-6 who was struck out for Trzcinski’s sixth in the game.

The final round gets underway next Thursday with the leading team automatically through to the Grand Final, second and third play off to win their way through on Finals night.

Final Scores

• CPC Angels D Emmsee Sportswear Thunder 16-9
• CPC Angels D Bob Burns Blinds Phoenix 12-5
• Emmsee Sportswear Thunder D Bob Burns Blinds Phoenix 8-6 (4 Innings)

CPC Homerun Tally

• Georgia Hood - 2
• Steph Trzcinski - 1
• Amber Hood -1
• Sophie Roberts - 1

Tournament Standings

• CPC Angels 13
• Emmsee Sportswear Thunder 10
• Bobs Burns Blinds Phoenix 1

Round 3 Fixtures - Thursday 16 September, from 6:30pm local time

• CPC Angels v Bob Burns Blinds Phoenix
• Emmsee Sportswear Thunder v Bob Burns Blinds Phoenix
• Emmsee Sportswear Thunder v CPC Angels

Tournament Points System