Eels caught-out by determined United

Joe Flynn | 16th November 2009

Softball: Brothers United reaffirmed its standing atop the Bundaberg Softball Association Division One with a six-run victory over North Bundaberg Moray Eels.

Moray Eels hitter Ashlee Leather swings and misses as United catcher Tanya Petersen backs up some accurate pitching.

MAX FLEET

Brothers United reaffirmed its standing atop the Bundaberg Softball Association Division One with a six-run victory over North Bundaberg Moray Eels at Frank Coulthard Oval on Saturday.

United capitalised on a dominant opening innings, though cut short by the controversial seven-run rule, to run away with a 13-7 victory in the grand final replay.

The United victory ended Eels recent winning streak and sent a statement to the competition that United was still the team to beat.

However United coach Dave Gear said it was anything but a polished performance.

“Our fielding was hit and miss, we made some errors that we really shouldn’t have,” Gear said.

“Some of the errors things that even juniors would not do.”

Again it was the controversial “seven across the plate” rule that was one of the talking points of the match.

United stormed through seven runs in its opening innings and was forced to declare to allow Wests to bat.

“I really don’t agree with the rule in this class of softball,” Gear said.

“What’s next, we put an esky (with drinks) on every base and play social softball.”

South Sluggers defeated Western Suburbs Panthers 16-1 in a one-sided affair in the next best women’s match of the day.

In the men’s, United 8 defeated United 7 16-5 in the first game.

Western Suburbs Lynx defeated Across the Waves 8 13-10 in a nail-biter.

But their clubmates, the Sabre-Toothed Tigers lost to South Sluggers 13-3.