Story and photos by REDintern Matthew Lau

B Division Softball Catholic High School vs Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

(ACSI #51) dives into home to avoid the tag. (Photo 1 © REDintern Matthew Lau)

Kallang Diamond, Friday, February 28, 2014 – Catholic High School beat Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 9–6 for spot in the final of the National B Division Softball Championship.

Catholic High built a 7–0 lead heading into the fifth and final inning before ACS(I) finally responded in the bottom of the fifth with five runs after failing to exploit a bases-loaded situation in the third.

Catholic High got their runs from eight different players, with Chan Wei Zheng (CHS #2) having a team-high two.

In the first inning, Elliot Tan (CHS #21) hit a double to left field to score Wei Zheng (CHS #2).

With a runner on second, Schuyler Tay (CHS #52) hit a runs-brought-in (RBI) single, scoring Elliot Tan (CHS #21).

Alexander Wee (CHS #35) then hit a ball down the right field line for a double, scoring Schuyler before (ACSI #27) threw Chow Rui Yan (CHS #99) out at first to end the inning with Catholic High leading 3–0.

(ACSI #6) led off for his team, hitting a double in the bottom of the first inning. An attempt at a sacrificial bunt in an effort to advance (ACSI #6) failed as (ACSI #27) popped up the bunt and it was caught by Alexander Wee (CHS #35).

(ACSI #51) then got thrown out at first by Wei Zheng (CHS #2). A fine play by Wei Zheng (CHS #2) got (ACSI #2) out to end the inning.

Javier Ng (CHS #22) hit a single through the middle of the diamond to lead off the second inning but was thrown out at second base when he tried to go for an extra base.

Catholic High then got two singles in a row through Elias Lee (CHS #7) and Benjamin Loke (CHS #10). However, Chan Wei Zheng hit a pop fly and it was caught by the ACS(I) shortstop for the second out.

Elliot Tan (CHS #21) hits a single to left field, scoring Elias Lee (CHS #7) but the ACS(I) third baseman threw out Schuyler Tay (CHS #52) to end the inning with Catholic High now leading 4–0.

ACS(I)’s barren run in the bottom of the second inning. Alexander Wee (CHS #35) caught a pop fly from (ACSI #17) to get the first out of the inning. (ACSI #99) hit over Wei Zheng (CHS #2) for a single but he was thrown out in a double play after Javier Ng (CHS #22) caught a foul ball by (ACSI #9).

Catholic High got a further two runs in the third inning when Marcus Aw (CHS #3) hit a triple to right field to bring Alexander Wee (CHS #35) and Chow Rui Yan (CHS #99) home.

Catholic High faced a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the third inning. Pitcher Daryl Chan struck out (ACSI #98) and (ACSI #12) but then walked the next two batters (ACSI #98) and (ACSI #27) before hitting (ACSI #51), loading the bases. With the bases loaded, it was a chance for ACS(I) to make a comeback but Daryl got himself out of a tricky situation by striking out (ACSI #2) to end the inning.

ACS(I) started the fourth inning by calling in their second pitcher Kohei Wong (ACSI #6) to substitute (ACSI #5). However, the new pitcher started the inning by walking Wei Zheng (CHS #2) who then stole second base. Pinch runner Gabriel Tan (CHS #28) came in for Wei Zheng and he advanced to third base on the back of Elliot Tan’s (CHS #21) sacrificial fly ball to center field. Schuyler Tay then placed a sacrificial bunt to score Gabriel Tan (CHS #28) to make it 7–0.

ACS(I) failed to get any runners on base in the bottom of the fourth inning and Catholic High put even more pressure on their opponents with two more runs in the fifth after loading the bases.

Chow Rui Yan (#99) hit a single to left field to start off the top of the fifth inning. After Javier Ng (CHS #22) popped out, pitcher Kohei Wong (ACSI #6) walked Marcus Aw (#3). Benjamin Loke (CHS #10) then hit a grounder to the ACS(I) shortstop who decided to go for the play at third base but he was too late.

With bases loaded, Gabriel Tan (CHS #28) hit a ball in play to the ACS(I) first baseman who fired the ball home for the out. However, Catholic High finally got another run when Elliot Tan (CHS #21) hit a single to center field to score Marcus Aw (#3) and Benjamin Loke (#10) before Schuyler Tay (#52) got thrown out by the ACS(I) shortstop to end the inning.

Catholic High School were now three outs from securing a spot in the final and pitcher Daryl Chan promptly proceeded to strike out (ACSI #98) and (ACSI #12). With two outs, Kohei Wong (ACSI #6) was up to bat and he kept their hopes alive with a a single to center field.

Daryl Chan (CHS #12) then hit (ACSI #27) to walk him and with runners on first and second, (ACSI #51) hit a blooper to center field to allow Kohei to score the first run for ACS(I).

Catholic High pitcher Daryl then intentionally walked (ACSI #2) and a pinch runner (ACSI #13) was brought in for (ACSI #2). Daryl (CHS #12) then gave away another walk, this time to (ACSI #17), which loaded the bases.

With bases loaded, (ACSI #99) hit a single to centre field, scoring three runs. With the score at 9–4, Catholic High brought in substitute pitcher, Alexander Wee (CHS #35).

Alexander could not close it out, allowing a hit to (ACSI #9) and walking (ACSI #8). This forced another pitching change, with Elliot Tan coming in to take Alexander’s place. Elliot then proceeded to strike out (ACSI #25) to end the game and confirm Catholic High’s place in the final against Raffles Institution.

The final will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 3pm, at the Kallang Diamond.

Scorers
Catholic High
Benjamin Loke – 1
Chan Wei Zheng – 2
Elliot Tan – 1
Schuyler Tay – 1
Alexander Wee – 1
Chow Rui Yen – 1
Elias Lee – 1
Marcus Aw – 1

ACS(I)
#6 – 1
#16 – 1
#51 – 1
#13 – 1
#17 – 1
#99 – 1

Score By Inning
Catholic High vs Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
1st Inning: 3–0
2nd Inning: 4–0
3rd Inning: 6–0
4th Inning: 7–0
5th Inning: 9–6

Catholic High Roster
Benjamin Loke (#10), Chan Wei Zheng (#2), Elliot Tan (#21), Schuyler Tay (#52), Anthony Neo (#20), Alexander Wee (#35), Chow Rui Yan (#99), Elias Lee (#07), Javier Ng (#22), Daryl Chan (#12), Gabriel Tan (#28), Marcus Aw (#03), Low Siang Ern (#16), Ethan Kai (#1), Zhang Cheng Chuan (#8), Sean Soo (#23), Darren Heng (#5)

ACS(I)
We were unable to obtain the roster from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). If you have the full roster, please leave it in the comments and we will update the story.

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