Laurieton Local Lawyers coach Tom Critchley said the Camden Haven has a proud history of softball and it is wonderful to see the Olympic sport making a revival.

On Saturday, December 9 the team played the Port Macquarie Warriors.

“Most softball judges saw this as a mismatch; an experienced team that is running third in the competition, against a team of newcomers,” Tom said.

The Warriors scored three runs in the top half of the first innings, but Mel Hunt, Nat Middleton and Sarah Currie all crossed home plate to bring the game back to level pegging.

The Warriors then took a 6-3 lead and were looking comfortable as the Local Lawyers made numerous errors in the field.

“The third innings saw a major transformation of the team,” Tom said. 

It started when Chrissy Andrews, Amanda Badger, Georgia Boland and Jordan Grieve all crossed home plate giving the Local Lawyers a 7-6 lead.

Tom said Chrissy Andrews’ pitching provided a shutout innings, backed up by some wonderful fielding which kept the game even at 8 all until the start of the sixth innings.

The Warriors, with the top of their order up, scored another three runs to take an 11-8 lead. The Local Lawyers failed to score in their six innings.

“With their backs against the wall it was Amanda Badger’s double play when she caught a line drive and spun around and tagged the runner,” Tom said. 

“This magnificent play gave the Local Lawyers an outside chance of winning.”

When Jo Cummins crossed home plate on a home run by Fiona Ewan the difference was only one run. When Mel Hunt, the potential winning run reached first base the Local Lawyers were one hit from a win but the unlucky batter hit the ball like a bullet, only to see the Warriors’ pitcher jump high to take the hit away and finish the game: Warriors 11, Local Lawyers 10.

The team will resume training on January 25, 2018.