Cats Win Comfortably In The Port Pirie Night Baseball Rematch Of The Grand Finalists

The grand finalists from the previous season competed in both the Minors and Majors series as the Port Pirie Night Baseball League got underway last Friday at Memorial Oval.

When the Cats batted first against the Tigers in the minor leagues, they went through their lineup and scored 9 runs on 6 safe hits. After the Cats pitcher drew three straight walks and Mark Bridley received a safe hit, the Tigers were able to score two runs in the bottom of the inning.

In the second inning, neither team was able to score, but the Cats extended their lead with six more runs in the top of the third inning and held the Tigers without a run in the bottom of the frame.

Mark Bridley’s third hit of the game allowed the Tigers to score one more run in the bottom of the fourth and final innings. Cats won by a comfortable margin of 15 runs to 3.

Best Cats players included Brad Scarman and Kevin Abbott, who each had two safe hits from three at-bats while Aiden Fasciano and Scott Wardle split pitching duties and combined to allow three runs.

Mark Bridley, a Tiger, had a bat-strike percentage of 3 out of 3.

In the Majors, the Tigers, who won the championship the previous year, faced the Cats, who were completely in the Tigers’ hands thanks to Jake Brooks’ pitching.

While Brooks’ pitching held the Cats scoreless for 5 innings, the Tigers scored 2 runs in the first inning and 2 more in the third.

Young Tigers pitcher Trey Luteria took over for the incumbent pitcher in the top of the sixth inning. Luteria struck out three batters and allowed three hits, which allowed the Cats to score four runs and tie the game.

Following another pitching change by the Tigers, the game drastically changed as the Cats scored 6 more runs in the seventh inning.

Cats continued their offensive in the top of the eighth inning, scoring another 8 runs, while Tigers could only muster 2 runs in the bottom of the inning.

After the significant turnaround, Cats easily prevailed in the end, 18 runs to 6.

The best player for the Cats was Ashley Brook, who pitched 8 innings and gave up 10 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts, and 6 runs while also going 3 for 3.

Best for the Tigers were Nathan Lynch, who went 3 from 4, and Jake Brooks, who held the Cats at bay for 5 innings while also going 2 from 4 at the plate.

Reference: https://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/story/7954600/friday-night-baseball-hits-off-with-cats-dominating-the-field/?cs=1530