SOFTBALL


National ‘B’ Division Girls’ Final
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School vs Orchid Park Secondary School
Monday, 16 April 2007 at Kallang

Story by Lee Hwee Cheng.  Pictures by Leslie Tan. Highlights of the final on episode 7 of RedSportsTV. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

"Ball and strike!"

The Red Crew finally found the opportunity to make the field trip this afternoon to Kallang in time to catch the National ‘B’ Division Girls’ Softball Final where defending champions Tanjong Katong Girls’ staved off Orchid Park Secondary’s hot pursuit of the title with a narrow 4-2 win, but not before surviving a scare or two from the "new kids on the block".


Orchid Park’s first batter Shimin (no.12) misses a strike that lands in the glove of TKGS’ catcher, Zaza (no.36). © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

The weather was thankfully kind and cloudy, albeit a tad stuffy, and while the fields were still bearing fresh signs from the rain over the past few days (which had resulted in the repeated postponement of the ‘B’ Boys’ semi-final last week), the rains never once threatened today.  This may sound strange but somehow a muddy softball field always smells sweeter than a muddy football pitch to me and so it did today.  And it only made the game a more delightful one to watch.


Orchid Park’s batter’s up! © Leslie Tan


TKGS fielder readies for a hit. © Leslie Tan

The game started reserved and sluggish, with both sides making errors and going a little too cautious on the runs and scoring.  Orchid Park were up batting first, while TKGS played defense.  Pitcher Kelly (no.15), looking all tense throughout the game, gave the second batter Val (no.37) a free base after sending first batter Shimin (no.12) a strike-out.  The subsequent two plays, including another strike-out, gave Val the chance to steal another two bases, but the opportunity to score a run was deprived when fourth batter-runner Farad (no.32) was tagged out of play at the first base.

At the bottom of the first inning, TKGS’s time at bat was disappointingly shortened, when none of the first three batters made it even to the first base.  Dian (no.2) the first batter was out after she hit a fly that flew into the second baseman’s glove.  Syaz (no.3) was struck out after hitting four consecutive foul balls, while Fooey (no.3), perhaps in a hurry to bring the game ahead, quickly hit a grounder but was tagged out at first base.  The first inning ended quickly at 0-0.


TKGS catcher Zaza catches a ball and threatens to make a play at the base. © Leslie Tan

The top of the second inning turned out more promising for Orchid Park, even with first batter Jaslin (no.10) making 3 strikes after TKGS pitcher Kelly almost slipped up with 3 balls.  Second batter Shilka (no.20) got a free base after the ball hit her.  At the next play, before third batter Shue Ling (no.23) got a strike-out, Shilka made a steal and was safe at second base.  Fourth batter Grace (no.21) then made a good hit out to the right outfield after making two strikes and another foul.  It caught the TKGS outfielders by surprise and it gave Grace a double and Shilka a chance to score the first point of the game. 

TKGS continued to struggle with their batting when the first two batters, catcher Zaza (no.36) and Ceri (no.29), both got tagged out at first base after hitting grounders.  Third batter Joyce (no.13) quickly hit another grounder towards left field on the first bat, and the ball unexpectedly rolled past between the legs of not one, but two Orchid Park fielders.  Joyce was safe at first base.  Orchid Park committed another defensive slip-up when TKGS fourth batter Mel (no.64) hit another grounder towards the first base. The first baseman missed the catch, giving TKGS some hope of a point with Joyce gaining a base at third and Mel at second.  The run, however, eluded TKGS when fifth batter Patrina (no.21) got tagged out at first base.  Orchid Park led 1-0 after two innings.


Orchid Park’s pitcher Chye Ning (no.91) in action. © Leslie Tan

The third inning was a quick and disappointing one for Orchid Park as the TKGS defense stepped up.  First batter Weixin (no.15) got tagged out at first base quickly after hitting a grounder.  Second batter Shimin (no.12) hit 3 consecutive foul balls, before batting a line ball straight into the glove of TKGS second baseman Mel (no.64).  The latter made a second heroic save when the Orchid Park third batter Val (no.37) hit another fly that was confidently caught by Mel.

After a good defensive play, TKGS went on to score a point in the bottom of the third inning.  With the first batter Foo (no.33) already out from a tag at first base, second batter Dian (no.2) made a double when the Orchid Park fielders fumbled in their defense once again, and subsequently made a run back to home base for her team’s first point in the last batting play.  The game was tied at 1-1 at the end of the third inning.


One of TKGS’s heroines-of-the-day second baseman Mel (no.64) makes another catch. © Leslie Tan

The fourth inning turned out to be the turning point for TKGS.  After a long battle at the top of the inning, where pitcher Kelly and catcher Zaza seemed to crumble a little under the immense pressure, seven players from Orchid Park took their turns at bat.  After a bout of poor pitching, Orchid Park’s Faridah (no.32), Jaslin (no.10) and Shilka (no.10) were all given a free walk to first base.  With three players already out on bases, TKGS catcher Zaza made a crucial error when she failed to catch a poor pitch from Kelly.  This gave Faridah the chance to run home while Jaslin and Shilka stole bases.  Orchid Park continued to threaten with another imminent point when batter Shue Ling (no.23) hit a grounder and made it safely to first base due to a poor defensive play by the TKGS fielders.  Unfortunately, Orchid Park couldn’t bring their runners home when the next two batters got struck out.  As the game proceeded to the bottom of the fourth inning, Orchid Park lead 2-1.

As if woken up suddenly by their poor defensive showing in the top half of the fourth inning, TKGS showed grit and started hitting the balls right.  A grounder by Mel (no.64) that Orchid Park’s outfielder failed to stop led to her making a double to second base, and her teammate Joyce (no.13), already on first base, ran all the way home to give TKGS a 3-2 lead.  Third batter Patrina (no.21) hit another grounder at her turn that, as a result of another Orchid Park defensive blunder, led to Mel making it home for a 4-2 lead.


TKGS’s batter makes a hit. © Leslie Tan


Orchid Park fielder cheers her teammates on. © Leslie Tan

TKGS went on to win the game like a true confident champion in the top of the fifth inning, as they forced the first batter Shimin (no.12) out on a tag at first base.  Second batter Val (no.37) then hit a foul ball that flew behind and into the confident hands of catcher Zaza, making it a quick second strike-out for Orchid Park.  In the very last play of the game, pitcher Kelly finally overcame her nervousness as she forced three strikes past third batter Chye Ning (no. 91).

A good showing from Orchid Park posed a strong threat to the defending champions but it was not enough to stop TKGS from retaining their ‘B’ Division Girls’ Championship with a 4-2 victory.


TKGS’s pitcher Kelly (no.15) in action. © Leslie Tan


Orchid Park’s outfielder saves a hit and throws infield to the bases. © Leslie Tan

In the 3rd/4th placing match, Raffles Girls’ School beat Nanyang Girls’ High.


Nanyang’s batter-runner gains a run against RGS. © Leslie Tan

Editor’s note:  The names quoted are all the nicknames taken from the back of the players’ jerseys.  If you would like to give us your real, or full,names, let us know!  Also, if you do recognize yourselves or your friends in the pictures, let us know too, and we’ll update the report and captions accordingly. 

For more action shots, feel free to visit the picture gallery.