Written by: Isaiah Tan Edited by: Leung Lok Heng & Choa Zhao Xiang Photos by: EusoffWorks
The third and final day of the competition was upon us as our Softballers began their warmup as the sun began to peak through the overcast sky. The team was exuberant and were looking forward to meet their first challenger of the day.
EH 0-2 TH
Jowell served up some juicy pitches for breakfast all day everyday to start things off to a great start. Amos then made a sick catch to take their first batter down. Josh Lee then pulls off an absolute screamer as he plucks one from the sky and took the second batter down. After a series of good plays, 2 of TH’s batters found their way home. Jowell then shut the gates as he forced the next batter to strike out.
Josh Lee, Naomi and Capt Taka all stepped up to the plate next but were unable to progress as all of their balls were met by splendid catches. TH pulling out something from our textbook, recognising that defence is truly the best defence.
EH 1-2 TH
Freshie Tien then made a no nonsense catch to take the first batter down. 9 PC SPICY MC NUGGETS UPSAI by Jowell as her forced the second batter to strike out, hot dang boy I would like some curry sauce with that. He then teamed up with Ning to take the 3rd batter down at first. Solid display and yet again proving that defence is really the best defence lah.
Charmaine then saw herself out at first despite decent contact. Tien takes a hit on the way to second but the warrior pulls out the quickest leopard crawl I’ve ever seen and gets his hand onto second. Ning was then unfortunately out at first. LYLC Jowell stepped up next and hit a triple, allowing Tien to score a run, man was just dripping in finesse at this point. Shuyi’s good contact was then met by a good catch to end the second inning.
EH 3-4 TH
Some solid plays by TH saw two of their batters make it home. Veteran Sea Games Naomi said enough was enough and pulled out an acrobatic catch to take the next batter down. Jowell and Ning with a sick combination play took another one down at first. Josh Lee self-jioed to the party and made an exquisite catch.
Naomi is all smiles after yet another splendid catch.
Sports D Amos was up next and struck a nice double. Natasha then made her way to first. Josh Lee had an absolutely peachy contact but it was met with a great catch by TH’s fielder while Amos advanced to third. Naomi’s ball was caught as well but it bought enough time for Amos to sprint home while Natasha found her way to third safely. Capt Taka then made a foxy single, allowing Natasha to score a run. Charmaine’s ball was unfortunately caught next.
EH 4-4 TH
Jowell decided to turn up the heat and forced the first batter to strike out and mercilessly caught the second batter’s hit. 2 down in an instant. Amos and Charmaine then tagged the last one down at third and another air tight, zip lock, lock n lock, goldilock defence by the team.
Tien started the batting off with a saucey double and advanced to third after freshie Ning’s single. Jowell then sliced his ball which was caught. Shuyi made her way to first, securing enough time for Tien to sprint home but Ning was out at second.
EH 4-4 TH
Veteran Naomi started the inning with an impeccable catch. She then one upped herself by pulling off an even more spectacular catch than the previous one. What? She caught the next ball as well. Things were slowly turning into the Naomi show as she truly embraced our favourite quote, that defence is truly the best defence, no running away from that.
Beaut hit from D nice but it was met with a nice catch. Josh then struck another sweet ball but instant reactions from the pitcher who caught his ball saw him out. Ning was then out at first.
EH 5-6 TH
A great save by Tien saw the first one down as he launched the ball to Ning at first. A series of good plays saw one of TH’s batters run home. Capt Taka and Tien then took another one down but that play saw another runner make it home. Tien and NIng with another combination took the last one down.
Capt Taka found his way, however a good play from TH saw both himself and Charmaine out. Tien then made his way to first and advanced to second as Ning with dem Good Eye took a lil stroll to first. Jowell then struck a well placed shot which bought enough time for Tien to score a run. Shuyi was then out at first.
EH 7-7 TH
Josh started the inning with an eye-catching catch. One TH runner made his way home but Veteran Naomi quickly put another one down with yet another splendid catch, as we were treated to superstar level plays. Ning made an excellent stop and launched one to Tien at first to make a solid combo, buy 1 get 8 free passion card deal.
Mr Ken Jun then struck a pulchritudinous home run and absolute scenes on the bench. A tactical masterclass display by the Capt. SHermaine was unfortunately out at first. Style points by Josh and he slid into second base but it saw him sustaining a really unlucky unjury which saw IVP Cheng Tat take his place. Speedy recovery to you Josh #prayforJosh. Naomi’s ball was then caught. Capt Taka with a measured single which saw Sprinter Tat show what he was made of as he ran home. Charmaine’s good strike was then met with a good catch as we headed to Tiebreakers.
Cheng Tat putting his IVP track talent into good use!
EH 8-8 TH
Ning and Tien took another one down at first yet again as this duo proved to be a deadly combo, like Capt Taka and cucumber, if you know, you know. One TH runner managed to scramble home but Tien and Capt Taka saw the next 2 go down in quick succession with solid catches by each of em.
Tien made sweet contact which saw Charmaine score a run. He was then out at second as Ning hit a single. Tough luck for Jowell as he struck out. Subsequently, Shuyi saw her ball caught.
EH 8-9 TH
One TH runner makes it home after a good hit by his teammate. Jowell continued his run of good pitching form as he forced one batter to strike out. Naomi then treated the spectators to a display of her skills to take the next one down at second. Substitute Si Heng followed in Josh’s footsteps and he contributed with a nice catch of his own.
Amos then scuffed a ball and saw himself out at first despite good running. Hard luck for Shermaine as she struck out and for Si Heng as his ball was caught as well.
A tough loss for our Softballers as they could literally smell the victory but the day was not over yet as a rematch with TH would be coming up soon. After some time to rest, rehydrate and a secondary warmup, the team was ready to face RH in the semi-finals.
EH 1-0 RH
Feels bad for Ken Jun as he struck out. Good hit by Veteran Naomi but it she was just shy of being safe and was out at first. Capt Taka with a sublime hit saw him stroll home, madness. Charmaine then struck an amazing triple but is down due to stepping out of bounds.
A good catch and better throw from JJ prevented a double. Good link up play by SEA Games Players Taka and Naomi took one down. Similar play again saw Naomi take another one down at second. Charmaine with a catch at third saw us return to our usual air tight defence.
EH 3-0 RH
Solid hit by Tien was met with a good catch by RH. A MASSIVE HOMERUN by LYLC Jowell drove the crowd wild as he brought Ning home along with him. Yet another good hit by Shuyi but she’s out at first. JJ’s sky ball is then caught.
Greedy plays by RH is punished by no nonsense Tien, man wasn’t having none of that around. Jowell’s tasty pitches then saw him force the next batter to strike out, nothin new. Charmaine’s classy catch saw the final batter taken down.
EH 8-1 RH
Unfortunate for Hasya as she’s out at first despite screams from her supporters. Ken Jun struck a sexy double while excellent sprinting from Naomi saw her make her way to first. A nice single from the Capt saw Ken Jun run home. A juicy double from Charmaine then bought enough time for the SEA Games players to both score runs. Good Eye was back again from Tien as he gallivanted to second. Ning’s single then allowed Charmaine to find her way home. Great contact from Jowell is replied with a great catch but it allows Tien to run home. Shuyi’s ball is caught.
Senior Ken Jun chases one down for his team.
Laser throw from Capt Taka to Shermaine takes one down. LYLC Bala to Shermaine sees another down. One RH runner makes it home but Bala closes shop with a catch of his own.
EH 15-3 RH
JJ hit a nice single and sprinted home after a fine ass double from Hasya. A triple by Ken Jun then allowed Hasya to run home. Superstar Naomi also piled on the heat as her triple saw Ken Jun score another run. Capt Taka provided his fans with a good laugh as his sky ball was caught. Shermaine entered the wrong club as she followed her Capt’s footsteps. Bala’s double allowed Naomi to run home. D nice very nice fly rice to first. Another homerun for Jowell as he brings everyone home. Feels like Hacksaw ridge, “Lord give me one more”.
Capt Taka decides to put the entertainment in sports entertainment, you guessed it, Sports D back to pitching, along with a couple of other subs. Amos with some impeccable pitches forces the batter to strike out. But it was all just a decoy as he threw some pitches that I can’t even describe. Laugh until my stomach pain sia. Capt Taka decided to throw him some encouragement remarking that ‘that’s the Amos we know’. Sometimes we just have to expect the expected. Bala with a sick catch makes it 2 down. One RH runner made it home but Capt Taka took matters into his own hands to see the inning out as he shut off third, ignoring Bala which made the bench laugh.
EH 15-3 RH
Natasha,JJ and Hasya struck nice singles consecutively but Natasha was out at third. Josh Low’s ball was then caught despite wonderful contact. Naomi’s contact was splendid as well but Hasya found herself out at second.
Capt Taka and Shermaine team up to take the first batter down. D nice very nice to Shermaine saw another one down. JJ pulls a Naomi and pulls off an immaculate catch to see the game out.
With the second game over, a no nonsense display from our Softballers built up the anticipation for what would be a truly engrossing finals, a rematch against TH. After his final tear inducing speech for this IHG season, Capt Taka rallied his teammates into one final cheer as some of them could be seen wiping the tears from their eyes. These guys would go to war for their Capt, damn touching man.
EH 0-5 TH
Ken Jun almost pulled a Naomi right from the get go but the ball barely escapes his outreached grasp. Jowell and Tien combined to take one down at first. A series of good hits by TH saw 2 of their batters scramble home. It looked like another home run was hit, but wait, a wild Naomi appeared and with another juicy catch, saw the batter left speechless, she made it look too easy. TH replied with another insane hit which unfortunately saw all 3 runners make it home. Getting slightly concerned that it might become the TH show, another fell victim to The Naomi.
Excellent sprinting was nearly enough as Ken Jun was given a rough call and found himself out at first. TH’s defence seemed airtight as well as they dealt with both Naomi’s and Capt Taka’s ball.
Captain Taka with a solid swing to send the ball hurtling through the sky.
EH 0-6 TH
A perfect catch from Tien saw him take one down. Ken Jun also followed suit to make it 2 down but one runner made it home. Ken Jun shows up yet again with another delectable catch to take the final one down. Josh would be proud.
Charmaine struck a nice single but was narrowly out at third after a lovely double by Tien. A gorgeous double by Ning saw Tien slide to third. Jowell and Shuyi were unfortunately punished as their balls were caught.
EH 4-7 TH
Jowell with a nonchalant underhand toss to Tien took the first batter down. Yet another sick catch by Mr Ken Jun makes it 2 but a runner made it home. No nonsense defence by Ning and Tien as the duo take the final one down.
Sports D Amos’ ball is caught and a case of Good Eye from Hasya seems her stroll to first. A flavourful triple by Ken Jun saw Hasya score a run. Naomi returns the favour as her single saw Ken Jun run home. Capt Taka also joined the party with a sublime triple allowing Naomi to run home. Charmaine and Tien’s balls were both met by great catches as Taka found his way home. Things were beginning to swing in our favour.
EH 5-10 TH
Jowell continued his fine form as he forced one to strike out. Ken Jun with yet another solid catch but a runner returned home. A solid homerun from TH saw another 2 make their way home. Merciless from Ken Jun as he took the final one down. Looks like Naomi might need to share her stage.
A peachy single by Ning saw her advance to second after Jowell’s single. Shuyi’s ball is caught. A nice single by Amos saw Ning score a run as Jowell sprinted to third. A double play by TH saw Amos and Natasha out.
Freshie sensation Ning winds up for a strong pitch.
EH 5-10 TH
CRAZY CATCH BY SUPERSTAR TIEN as he leaped to catch the ball and slid to first to take the batter down. Hope they got a pic of that cos I’d instantly make that my DP and get a poster of it, put it in a nice frame and hang in on my wall. Ken Jun continued Ken Jun things to make it 2 down. Tien and Ning took the 3rd batter down, 3 up, 3 down.
Ken Jun struck a sexy single but is narrowly out at second after a Naomi single. Capt Take also stuck a nice single but Naomi found herself out at second. Charmaine’s ball was then caught.
EH 5-10 TH
Ken Jun caught a fly ball, what’s new at this point? Capt Taka then launched a powerful throw but Tien handled it comfortably to see another one down at first. Charmaine then launched a cannon of her own to Tien as they took the third down.
Tough luck for Ning as she struck out. Jowell made his way to first but Tien was out at second in the process. Jowell is then out at second after Shuyi’s hit. Both teams were not allowing nothin pass their defences as TH was looking a hard nut to crack.
EH 5-13 TH
Ken Jun with another Ken Jun but one runner made it home. Jowell and Tien made it two down shortly after. Heartbreaking scenes as a series of really good hits saw two more of TH runners make it home to bring an end to the game.
With the game over, our Softballers displayed their true nature of sportsmanship as they proceeded to thank their opponents, umpires and their sea of supporters. It was truly a joy to journey with them over the last 3 days and this is no doubt a tightly knit team who played their hardest. Unfortunately it was not meant to be this year. The team should not feel an ounce of regret as they gave it their all and it was great to see them keeping their heads up despite the painful loss. Looking forward to more action from them in the future. Head over to EusoffWork’s Facebook page for more photos of the games!
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