Saints will play their first top-grade grand final when they tackle reigning premiers, South Wagga Warriors in Saturday’s Wagga Softball premiership decider.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It will be nothing different for the Warriors as they have played in, and won, all but one of the premierships since 2012.
That occasion was their first as an amalgamated club, the union of the Warriors Club and the South Wagga Club.
They defeated the now defunct Kooringal in that game, missed the next season and now are on the verge of their fifth consecutive premiership.
Their last four grand finals saw them defeat Turvey Park, but this time it’s the Saints they’ll be out to beat.
The Warriors impressive record sees them start as favourites again, but the Saints improvement in their batting suggests that they are capable of a win.
The key player for South Wagga is pitcher and power batter, Montana Kearnes.
Neither Saints nor Turvey Park managed to beat the Warriors when she was pitching. While certainly not a one-player team, that fact remains.
Whether the Saints can overcome the psychological advantage that Kearnes holds could give the Saints a better chance of victory.
The Saints will look to Kadison Hofert, Tessa McGlynn, Gemma McGlynn and Desi-Ann Calder to lead the way with the bat, but, moreso, they will hope that less consistent batters, Sarah Rose, Morgan Pearce and Paula Potts can carry their improved form into the big match.
The Saints also have been much cleaner in the field and given great support to the battery of Tessa McGlynn to Kadison Hofert.
Gemma McGlynn had a busy day last week and can expect a barrage of balls hit out to her again this Saturday, as most of the Warriors power hitters, Montana, Jane and Layhnee Kearnes and Sam O’Neill hit in that direction.
Others to stand out with the bat include Jess Swaysland, Shae Skillen, Carmel Hutchinson, Kristy Tenison and Jess Grant.
If the Saints can keep scoreboard pressure on the seasoned Warriors, they are capable of pulling off an upset, but the Warriors look set to record their fifth straight premiership a remarkable achievement in any sport.
The A grade grand final takes place at 4.15pm on Saturday at French Fields.
GRAND FINAL SQUADS
South Wagga Warriors squad: Jane Kearnes, Montana Kearnes, Layhnee Kearnes, Shae Skillen, Jess Swaysland, Kira Hallam, Kristy Tenison, Sam O’Neill, Jess Grant, Carmel Hutchinson, Simone Jorgensen
Saints squad: Tessa McGlynn, Kadison Hofert, Paula Potts, Seona Dwyer, Morgan Pearce, Desi-Ann Calder, Gemma McGlynn, Meg Emery, Sarah Rose
