In a showdown worthy of its top-of-the-table billing, the AutoOne Midland Carine Cats and Bayswater Monarchs went head-to-head in a gripping contest that had clutch plays, defensive heroics, and late-inning drama, ultimately ending in a 4-all draw.

With both teams battling for ladder supremacy ahead of finals, the game delivered on every promise – a great advertisement for WA softball.

The Cats came out swinging in the first inning with Lauren Brown continuing her red-hot form, slapping a clever shot to centre-right. Annaliese Daley’s infield pop-up somehow evaded the gloves, and a centre-field drive from Liv Kuzminski plated two early runs to give Carine the ideal start.

In the circle, Ash Harwood was in complete control through the opening four innings, giving up just two hits and striking out four. She was backed by elite infield work, with Michelle Fitzgerald vacuuming up everything at first base and Kuzminski showcasing her international-level class at shortstop.

Fresh off the plane from Aussie Spirit duties, Sara Riou slotted into the DP role and made her presence felt with a perfectly placed double down the right-field line in the third. Hits from Kuzminski and McKenzie Vawser followed, but the Monarchs escaped a bases-loaded jam with no damage – a moment that would come back to bite the Cats.

Courtney Dye added a centre-field single in the fourth, but opportunities were hard to come by as the Monarchs’ defence settled and shut the Cats down in the middle innings.

Just as Carine seemed in full control, the Monarchs launched a fifth-inning ambush, driving balls deep into the outfield and taking advantage of a rare lapse in the Cats' defence. Four runs crossed the plate, flipping the game on its head and leaving the Cats trailing for the first time.

A three-up, three-down inning in response only added to the pressure. But just when the game looked like slipping away, Carine showed what they’re made of.

It was Chooky Fitzgerald who sparked the rally — blasting a double off the left field fence to lead off the bottom of the final inning. Harwood reached on an error, and Daley followed with a scorching line drive to right field to drive in the tying run.

With one out left and bases loaded after walks to Riou and Kuzminski, Vawser nearly pulled off the walk-off, only to be denied by a sharp defensive play at third. Game over, tied at 4-4.
While the Cats will feel they let this one slip, there were plenty of positives to take away with the clutch finish. Sara Riou took out the Whitfords Brewery Player of the Day, and the opportunity to further celebrate her outstanding tournament against Chinese Taipei over the past week.

NEXT UP: ONE LAST DOUBLE-HEADER BEFORE FINALS
One round remains before the real fun begins. The Cats face Royals and Mariners in a crucial double-header next week, with final placings on the line.