Hills was a surprise winner of the final in the women's A grade division of the State Country Softball Championships, beating Adelaide 4-3.
Over the preliminary rounds of the women’s A grade, Adelaide was undefeated and raging favourites in the final, while Hills had to battle through a preliminary final against Mount Gambier to make the gold medal game.
Batting first, Hills started well when lead-off batter Bron Pendleton walked and stole second base, but with the next two batters out, it looked like she would be stranded, except Chantelle Lewis hit a RBI single, followed by Alex Mackay’s RBI triple, for a 2-0 opening.
Adelaide responded in the bottom of the first inning with three runs, on Bel White’s two-run home run, followed by Emily Cattuzzo triple and Megan Williams RBI double.
A scoreless second dig saw the game continue in the 40+ heat with scoring at a premium, although Hills rose to the occasion for a pair of runs at the top of the third to hit the front – Lewis hit a RBI triple and continued home after an error on the play.
Time was running out for Adelaide as it went to bat for the final attempt, in the bottom of the fourth.
Emily Dolphin led off by reaching on an error, and Madi Matschke singled, but Dolphin was caught in a run down between second and third bases, and was tagged out sliding into third.
Zoe Thompson laid down a safe bunt, but the next two batters hit to shortstop Abi Jorgensen, who retired two advancing runners for side, for Hills to win the championship.
Not only was Lewis the leading batter with two hits, two runs and two RBIs, she pitched the complete game, surrendering six hits for two strikeouts.
It was a double celebration for Scott Humphrys, who not only pitched the winning game in the men’s final but coached the Hills’ women to their title, with his ‘baby’ sister Chantelle Lewis claiming the win in that game.
Hills 2 0 2 0 – 4
Adelaide 3 0 0 0 – 3
(hits: Hills – Lewis 2, Mackay, Ween; Adelaide – Thompson 2, White (hr), Cattuzzo, Williams, Matschke. WP: C. Lewis; LP: C. Dobroszczyk).
