Raiders off to the final

Minor premiers Raiders defeated Pirates 12-6 on Saturday at the first preliminary finals of the Port Hedland softball competition to secure a spot in the grand final.

Jets, meanwhile, beat Hawks 9-2 and will face Pirates in the semifinal, with the winner advancing to the grand final.

In the first A-grade game, Hawks clashed with Jets, with the game tied two apiece by the second inning. Hawks’ momentum was brought to a complete stop as Jets dug deep in the fourth inning to earn four runs to take the lead. Shutting out Hawks, they gained another three runs in the sixth to secure their semifinal spot.

Jets’ top batting spot went to Stacey Allen, who batted one from two with four RBIs. A close second was Kirsty Kubala with two singles from three hits, with Tiarne Whitby with a single RBI from one hit.

Fiona Lockyer topped the batting chart for Hawks, going two from two with a single and a double, earning the only RBI for her team. Teammate Jen Price batted two from four and Janelle Woodley hit one single from three times at the plate.

Jets’ Donna Nordmannpitched the first four innings with one strikeout, followed by Toni Armstrong who closed with three strikeouts.

In the later A-grade game, Raiders scored eight runs to Pirates’ two by the second inning. Runs came in dribs and drabs for both sides there onwards. Raiders sealed the win by bringing in two runners in the sixth while holding Pirates to two runs in the seventh.

Raiders’ top batter for the game was Kelly Johnson, who batted two from two with a single RBI. Shelley Glasson topped the Pirates’ batting list with a single form two times at bat, earning her side a single RBI.

Denny pitched the first three innings for Pirates, earning two strikeouts, followed by Nikkii Puertollano who earned a single strikeout from four innings on the mound.

Raiders’ Timara Simpson struck out seven Pirates.

In A-reserve, Raiders 2 secured their finals spot against Pirates 2, 15-10. Cougars beat PCYC 10-1.

Semifinals will be played on August 26 with A-reserve Cougars facing Pirates 2, the winner to face Raiders 2 in the grand final the following week.

Game information can be found on the Port Hedland Softball Facebook page.