Tigers’ final hopes cut short by Barber

The Willow Lakers put in a strong performance to reach the 2018 Softball League Final, overcoming the Towcester Tigers 12-4.

The Lakers were in good form heading into the play off semi final after beating the OddSox to secure a post season slot. However, the team talk was left in tatters when Katie O’Connor and Lauren Shkurko were reduced to a fit of giggles when the words ‘helmet’ and ‘polishing’ we mentioned in the same sentence.

The Lakers got on the board early when Jake Clarke drove in two runs – leaving him even more hyped than usual. An RBI from Katie O’Connor and a homerun from Jason Jenkins put the Lakers in full control at 6-0 after the first.

In the third inning RBIs from Hannah West and Laura Simpson helped the Tigers crawl back into the contest. As the action started to heat up the game was stopped by a dog trying to play Right Field. Umpire Jodie Bull was in no mood to allow this to delay the game and demanded the immediate removal of the hound.

Paul Severn doesn’t like running fast at the best of times but managed to get round for a homerun in the fourth to make it 7-3. Here’s a clip of the speedster in full flow:

The Lakers tacked on five more runs in the fifth and sixth inning. MVP Jason Jenkins finished the day with two homeruns. One captured by the excellent gif. Shame captain Adam Bee missed it...

Matt Barber was robbed of a homerun himself by a great catch by Laura Simpson, but the Tigers were shut down by Lakers pitcher Adam Bee, helped by some great fielding by MVP Katie O’Connor, Robert Welch and Matt Barber, who took two excellent catches in the outfield to secure the win.

Well done to the Lakers and congratulations to the Tigers for another great season. MVPs were Laura Simpson and Jonathan Mandell.

The Lakers celebrated reaching their first final by soaking Adam Bee. Be there on Tuesday 4 September to see whether the Lakers or OddSox will win the 2018 MK Softball title!