“From the Diamond” Round 14

State league Division One | 17Th and 20Th January 2025

Round 14 delivered everything Division One baseball promises dominant pitching performances, late-inning drama, milestone moments, and ladder-shaping results across the state.

Gray’s No-Hitter Headlines the Round

There was no grey area about the performance of Kensington’s Adam Gray, who etched his name into Division One history with a seven-inning no-hitter in the Cardinals’ 4–0 win over Gawler Rangers at Karbeethan Reserve.

With pitch counts making complete games a rarity, Gray’s effort stood out. He allowed just three baserunners — two walks and a hit batsman — while striking out 13 in a masterclass from the mound.

Kensington did all the damage early. Jack Platten set the tone with a leadoff double in the first, before RBI hits from Michael Bishop, Tyler Butterwick, and Jordan Spratt, plus a bases-loaded walk to Haru Riley, made it 2–0. A Sean Maple two-run home run in the second extended the lead to four, more than enough behind Gray’s brilliance.

Woodville’s Stunning Late Surge

Woodville produced one of the comebacks of the season, scoring nine runs in their final inning to overturn a 4–1 deficit and defeat Golden Grove Central Districts 10–5.

After trailing late, Woodville loaded the bases through hits to Jose Castellano, Wade Moore, and Cesar Perez. What followed was an avalanche — RBIs from Troy Nicholson, Alfredo Rodriguez, Ryan Stradling, and a pivotal two-run single from Castellano flipped the game on its head.

Earlier, GGCD looked in control thanks to home runs from Fynn Chester and Nick Wallis, but Woodville’s relentless final push proved decisive.

Southern Districts Strike Early

A fast start set the tone for Southern Districts’ 7–2 victory over East Torrens at Christie Beach.

After holding the Redsox scoreless in the opening frame, the Hawks struck for three runs in the first, sparked by Nick Hutchings’ double, an RBI single from Jake Campbell, and a Riley Moore home run.

Campbell added another long ball in the third as Southern steadily built its lead. John Inglis laid the platform on the mound with four strong innings, before the bullpen closed it out despite a late Redsox rally.

Adelaide’s Power Too Much

Adelaide continued their strong form with a 12–6 win over Goodwood at Mortlock Park, overturning an early deficit with sustained offensive pressure.

After Goodwood jumped out to a 6–4 lead, Adelaide responded with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Riley Yeatman and Max Tracey. Hugh Batchelor shut the door in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings to secure the win.

Earlier in the round, Adelaide also defeated Sturt 8–1, with Riley Yeatman producing a rare double — striking out 15 batters across eight innings and hitting a two-run home run, underscoring a dominant all-round performance.

Eagles Flying High

West Torrens enjoyed a dominant Round 14, headlined by a 14–0 shutout of Port Adelaide at Semaphore. Joel Chapman went the distance, allowing just five hits across five innings.

A seven-run third inning broke the game open, before Austin Gallagher capped the night with a grand slam in the fifth.

The Eagles also secured a crucial 3–0 win over Southern Districts, with home runs from Sam McGarry and Gallagher, while Jarod Large delivered a one-hitter across six innings.

Rams Finish Strong

Henley & Grange maintained their ladder position with two impressive wins. A late five-run final inning powered the Rams to a 9–0 win over Glenelg, with Wilson Lee striking out nine across six innings.

Later in the round, Henley came from behind to defeat Woodville 11–6, breaking a deadlock with a five-run seventh inning led by Wilson Lee, Liam Bull, and Jet Clohessy.

Tight Battles Elsewhere

Northern Districts and Sturt played out a rare 1–1 draw, with pitchers dominating throughout. Starters Luke Barrientos and Austin McLure combined for 16 strikeouts, while both sides scored on wild pitches in mirrored sixth innings.

Northern Districts also edged Kensington 5–4 in a thriller, with Luke Barrientos starring on both sides of the ball — driving in runs and later closing the game on the mound.

East Torrens defeated Port Adelaide 8–3, breaking the contest open with a five-run sixth inning, while Goodwood powered past GGCD 14–4, led by a remarkable five-hit, five-RBI performance from Griff Weber.

Ladder Snapshot

With Round 14 complete, Henley & Grange and Adelaide remain locked at the top, while Southern Districts, East Torrens, and West Torrens continue to jostle for finals positioning as the season heads toward its decisive phase

Women’s League Division 1 | 18TH January

Glenelg Hold Off Late Hawks Surge

Glenelg 7 def Southern Districts 5

Glenelg built an early advantage and held firm to secure a hard-fought win over Southern Districts, jumping out to a 7–2 lead after four innings.

The Tigers were powered by Jamie Stott, who collected three hits to anchor Glenelg’s offence. Southern Districts mounted a late challenge, loading the bases in the final inning, but were unable to capitalise when it mattered most.

Despite the loss, Jess Maslin continued her outstanding season, finishing 4-for-4 to lift her league-leading batting average to .741. In the circle, Georgia Kaluza earned the win for Glenelg, pitching five innings and allowing four earned runs.

Woodville Extend Winning Streak to 16

Woodville 13 def Adelaide 5

Woodville’s remarkable season rolled on with their 16th consecutive victory, once again showing resilience after falling behind early against Adelaide.

Alice Brown was flawless at the plate, going 3-for-3 and maintaining a scorching .694 batting average as she remains firmly in the race for the league batting title. Power came from Isabella Hacker, who belted her league-leading 10th double, lifting her slugging percentage to an impressive .800.

For Adelaide, Angela Mourtzios started strongly, throwing three innings for three earned runs, but Woodville’s depth and pressure ultimately proved decisive.

Kensington Break Through in Style

Kensington 10 def Sturt 2

Kensington snapped a four-game winless streak with a commanding performance over Sturt, racking up 10 hits and relentless pressure on the basepaths.

Ella Tok delivered her longest outing of the season, striking out three batters to take her season tally to 19 strikeouts. The offence was sparked by extra-base hits throughout the lineup, including triples from Elisa Gooley (three on the season) and Jade Germain, along with doubles from Georgia Davis and Terri Atherton.

Kensington added another layer of pressure by stealing nine bases, matching their season high and keeping Sturt on the back foot throughout the contest.

State League Article by: Robert Laidlaw

Photos courtesy of Paul Taeuber.