REIGNING premiers South Wagga Warriors will take on last season’s runners up Turvey Park in round three’s feature match of the Wagga softball competition.
Turvey has already taken an outright lead on the points table, albeit after only two games, with wins over Blu-Js and Lake Albert in the first two weeks.
By contrast, the Warriors have yet to open their winning account, although they did have a draw in the season opener with the Saints.
The Warriors are expected to “come out fighting” in their pursuit of their first win, and Turvey Park is just the team to get them “fired up”.
Both teams have sound batteries with pitching partners, Jane and Montana Kearnes tossing them down for the Warriors and Kate Looney and Jade Olsen doing the job for Turvey Park to respective catchers, Sam Vidler and Kathryn Armstrong.
Turvey’s strength, to date, has been their team batting with all team members batting consistently, but they will be put to the test by the Kearnes duo.
To date, Turvey has done well to cover the loss of three regularly good batters in Debbie Griffiths (retired), Nicole Baldry (pregnant) and Amanda Lenon (knee reconstruction) with youngsters Jamila Piercy and Georgina Carter and the seasoned Kate Looney.
Turvey’s batting line-up should also be boosted with the return of Amanda Gooden.
The Warriors also have a team of good batters, with the Kearnes to the fore.
Nicole Marlow and Tamika Raufers supported them last week in the safe hit department, but others in the line-up are still to hit the form of which they are capable.
The rematch of last season’s premiership decider is sure to inspire the Warriors to lift, and a good, close game is on the cards.
In the other game the Saints will play Lake Albert.
Both teams have taken to the diamond just once this season, with Lake Albert having the bye in the opening round and the Saints last week.
In that one start, the Saints looked more impressive in playing an opening round draw with South Wagga Warriors, while Lake Albert was well beaten by Turvey in their season debut.
Despite going down, however, Lake Albert did manage to score 12 runs. Although some shaky fielding by Turvey Park contributed to Lake’s tally, there were some fine hits, particularly from the bats of Sarah Rose, Jess Swaysland, Mel Lill, Alicia McLean, Sophie Hawkins and Jess Grant.
Should they continue that hitting form against the likes of Tessa McGlynn and Sarah Wardley, they’re heading in the right direction for a win.
So, with Lake eager to do well and the Saints looking to show that they’re up to scratch in the top grade, a run fest could be in store.
