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Summary: Under 23 Women

The decisive moment in the minor semi final between South Australia and Victoria came at the bottom of the 3^rd inning, where the home team put together four runs, highlighted by Millie Fidge driving in two runners with a single to centre-left. The Gilley’s Shield Grand Final MVP then did enough from the pitching circle to help secure the 6-2 win, with five strikeouts through five innings pitched.

New South Wales grabbed the early momentum in the major semi-final against Queensland, taking a 4-2 lead through two innings. However, a Queensland substitution shifted momentum back in the Maroon’s favour, with Emilee Zunker taking control from the pitching circle. Zunker took nine strikeouts and would not concede a run over the last five innings, allowing the Queensland bats to get on top and take the lead with three runs in the 5^th inning, thanks to a Rhiannon Kemp triple. Queensland then held on for a 6-4 win, booking themselves a place in the Grand Final.

The Blue Bloods again jumped out of the blocks, this time scoring five runs in the 1^st inning against South Australia in the Preliminary Final. Emily Gordon drove in two runners in the opening inning with a double to centre-left, but SA did not help themselves with two walks and an error in the same frame. The home team mounted a late charge however, scoring two runs in the 6^th thanks to RBIs from Georgia King and Charlize Callaghan, but it was too little, too late, as NSW advanced to the Grand Final with a 6-4 win.

Queensland are the 2022 Under 23 Women’s National Champions after a comprehensive 9-1 win over New South Wales. Led by Grand Final MVP Moe Kurihara, Queensland were dominant on offence, scoring five runs in the opening frame, followed by another three in the 4^th. The top of the Maroon's batting line-up virtually scored at will, with the first four batters all recording two runs each, while the number five batter Amaya Foxover had three RBIs. Chelsea Zunker was equally effective ffrom the pitching circle, giving up just two hits and one run while taking seven strikeouts in five innings pitched for the Maroons. Only Grace Wrixon and Nicole Connacher offered any resistance for the Blue Bloods, combining for two hits and an RBI, but congratulations to Queensland for winning their second-straight Joyce Lester Shield.

Day 4 Results:

1^st vs 2^nd Final: QLD 6 def NSW 4

3^rd vs 4^th Final: SA 6 def VIC 2

Preliminary Final: NSW 6 def SA 4

Grand Final: QLD 9 def NSW 1

Most Valuable Player: Rhiannon Kemp, QLD

Best Batter: Taylor Chillingworth, SA

Best Pitcher: Millie Fidge, SA

Grand Final MVP: Moe Kurihara, QLD

For completed game reports, please click here.

For complete standings, please click here.

For the complete schedule, please click here.

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