Results
Mens Firsts
20/01/05 – beat Upwey 3-0
The Demons triumphed in a tight and tense two-hour game against a very determined Upwey team. Hitting second, Melbourne came up to bat in the eighth innings with the score nil all. Stuart Cox led off with a single. Jay Willis then laid down a bunt, moving Cox to second and ended up safe at first. The next batter Michael Dunn followed the formula and laid down a safe bunt to load the bases with none out. Mark Doubleday drove in the first run with a single to left field. The next two batters struck out before coach Brett Caulfield drove in two more runs and that was the difference in the game. On the mound Brendan Ratcliffe produced a brilliant performance as he pitched a lazy nine innings shut out.
23/01/05 – beat Blackburn 14-8
Brendan Ratcliffe (3 hits, 1 RBI) picked up his third win in eight days with four innings of work relieving Tim Frost who exited after five innings with the score tied at six. Brendan’s four innings gives him a total of twenty innings since the New Year and with an ERA of about half he seems to be stuck on ridiculously good form. Blackburn threw Collis, Odlum and Shumpert but without David White they were no match for the Melbourne lefthanders and their bats. Out hitting their Blackburn rivals 19-15, Melbourne proved they are more than just a great defensive side with an offensive barrage led by Ben Smith (3 hits, 2 doubles, 4RBIs), Stuart Cox (3 hits) and Mark Doubleday (3 hits, 2 RBI). The defence was its normal excellent self with Michael Dunn in centre field simply outstanding, tracking down balls in the alleys that should have been hits. His two hits including a home run didn’t hurt either. Ben Wenke (2 hits, 2 RBIs) in left field took two important catches in one innings deep into the game when Blackburn was starting to threaten. Completing the hit parade were Will Keys (2) and Jordan Mitchelhill (RBI), the later fresh from a staring role at the state junior carnival.
Mens 2 nds – lost to Blackburn 14-12
The seconds were missing for most of the game, as most of their early impact on the scorebook required a red pencil. Trailing by as much as twelve runs they were dead and buried. And then they woke up. A ten run last innings not only put some respect into the score line but also gave the Blackburn team one huge scare, as they needed three pitchers to close it out. The highlight was a Shaun Mead grand slam and a host of hits to Jordan Mitchelhill (2), Matt Houlden, Ry Stanes (RBI), Ben Telford (RBI), Mat May (2, RBI), Rich Williams (2, RBI), Steve Fitzgerald (2, RBI) and Nathan Jones (3BB 1HPB 1 RBI).
Mens 3 rds – lost to Blackburn 7-2
The thirds were on the back foot right from the get go. A mad ring-around before the game could only secure us 8 players and when starting pitcher Andrew Speed blew his arm out on the first hitter of the game things were looking bleak. Fourteen-year-old prodigy Andy Mann took mound and without much of a warm-up he took some early damage. Once he was warm he simply dominated, completely tying down the usually potent Blackburn offence for the remainder of his allowed 90 pitches. Unfortunately the Melbourne offence, hampered by a blank, weren’t able to put together enough offence to get Andy a win.
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This Week
Saturday, January 29 th
Sunday, January 30 th
- Senior Men versus Cheltenham
1 sts & 2 nds at Cheltenham
3 rds & 4 ths at Surrey Park
- U18 at Bonbeach
- U16 at Blackburn
- U14 Demons host Sandringham
- U14 Red Sox at Essendon
- U12 host Moorabbin
Monday, January 31 st
- Masters play Fitzroy at Latrobe Uni at 6.30pm
Next Week
Saturday, February 5 th
Sunday, February 6 th
- Senior Men versus Newport
1 sts & 2 nds at Surrey Park
3 rds & 4 ths at Newport
- U18 have a bye
- U16 host Bonbeach
- U14 Demons at Werribee
- U14 Red Sox host Malvern
- U12 at Waverly
Monday, February 7 th Masters host Sunshine |
