Mens 1sts – beat Upwey 6-4
Courtesy Leader Newspaper Group
MELBOURNE has returned to the winner’s list and kept its season alive with a 6-4 victory over struggling Upwey-Ferntree Gully on Sunday at Upwey.
It was the Surrey Park-based Demons’ third win of the season and a much-needed one as the rest of the Baseball Victoria Division 1 teams storm ahead.
``It was a huge relief,’’ chairman of selectors Matt Duckworth said of the win.
MCC ’s win-loss record is 3-7 after Sunday’s match, equal with seventh-placed Essendon, but three wins away from sixth-placed Newport.
``We are just hanging in there,’’ Duckworth said.
``You could almost say our season would have been over if we had lost this game (against the Tigers).’’
Key performers with the bat included Will Keys (three singles and an RBI), Brett Caulfield (two doubles and two RBIs), Jay Willis (two hits including a double), Mark Doubleday (a double and an RBI) and Michael Dunn (single and a sacrificial fly for an RBI).
The win was bittersweet, however, with the Demons’ injury list gaining some untimely additions.
Ben Smith has a sore back, further delaying his return to the mound, Stuart Cox re-injured his ankle and Michael Dunn has hamstring soreness.
While Brendan Ratcliffe has been able to stay out of the sick bay – pitching the win against the Tigers – he too will be missing over the next fortnight as he heads to Canberra for work commitments.
In a plus for MCC, Daryn Cassidy relieved Ratcliffe and was credited with the save for his three-innings effort.
But even Cassidy is no certainty to play in Thursday’s mid-week game against Malvern or the Sunday match against Newport at Surrey Park, Duckworth said.
``We’ll wait for his arm to cool down,’’ he said.
``Often you won’t know the extent of the damage until a couple of days later.’’
The Demons will be hoping Cassidy, who has been suffering from tendonitis, will be able to return to the mound by Sunday.
Back-up pitcher Tim Frost is expected to pitch against Malvern and it’s hoped Cassidy will be fit for the clash against Newport.
The Demons’ match against Blackburn has been re-scheduled for December 7 at Surrey Park from 7.30pm. It will be a two-hour match.
Mens 2nds – lost to Upwey 14-3
A pretty ugly day all round really. Our pitcher was thrown out during the first inning leaving supercoach Nathan Jones sturggling to find a solution. Out of shear hope he turned to Matt Houlden for his first pitch ever and unfortunately the expirement didn't pay off giving up 5 runs in the first inning. Nathan Jones came out from behind the plate to pitch the rest of the match doing quite well for the first few innings. Offensively the Demons struggled to convert hits into runs. The Demons loaded up the bases a number of times but were unable to score more than three runs.
Mens 3rds – lost to Upwey 14-7
Mens 4ths – lost to Upwey 18-3
Ladies – beat Werribee 9-1
Masters – lost to Blackburn 9-2
Under 18 Melbourne – beat Moor/Black 23-1
Under 18 Melbourne/Doncaster – lost to Blackburn 5-3
Under 16 – lost to Upwey 6-5
It was a confident U16 side that arrived at Upwey on Sunday, after a narrow loss to Upwey without Andy pitching only a few weeks ago we knew that with our ace on hill Upwey were always going to find it tough. It turned out the going was tough for both teams and after five innings Upwey were clinging to a 2-0 lead. Josh Bevis got things going in the top of the sixth setting up Ben Hart who drove in a pair to tie the game. Melbourne then went up on Jamie Hough’s seeing eye grounder through third. Going into the bottom half of the sixth, Andy only had twelve pitches left – he needed only ten. There was still time on the clock so the game moved into the seventh. The Demons added two insurance runs off drives by Andy Mann and Jason Shaw. In the bottom half Andy finished his pitch count for a 6 1/3 innings effort with 6K’s. Ultimately Upwey rallied in the last to steal the game on bizarre dash to the plate but the Demon’s can take only positives out of this game that was highlighted by the rock solid defence of the Melbourne infield.
Under 14 Demons – lost to Werribee 9-1
Under 14 Red Sox – lost to Cheltenham 12-10
ROUND 6 20/11/05 Melbourne Red Sox v Cheltenham at Cheltenham
RED SOX FANTASTIC IN DEFEAT
In what proved to be the best game of the season so far, the gallant Red Sox went down to the undefeated Cheltenham 10 – 12 at Cheltenham. Despite the loss, the team realised that it can match it with the best and that there is a very fine line between winning and losing. The Melbourne team should rightly be very pleased with its efforts and no doubt will rebound even stronger next time it comes up against the classy Cheltenham line up.
Cal returned from ball boy duties and Coach Lenny was replaced in the selected team by Matt – apparently Lenny managed to hit a kangaroo on his way home from Healesville. Not a good omen – lets hope he is OK (and Lenny too). Nevertheless, the team warmed up well in the cool overcast, but brightening, conditions and seemed keen to take on the strength of the Cheltenham team.
With a lefty on the mound, Jack led off with a nice hit to right field, only to be picked off at 1 st looking to steal. Cal was walked and with his exceptional speed made it home from a pass ball. Alex was run out at 1 st. Hugh pounded one to centrefield to make 1 st but was left on base when Conor went down swinging.
Alex opened the pitching for the Red Sox but took a few batters to find his range which meant there were a few walks leading to scoring runs. The first batter was out running to 2 nd as Hugh at short stop nicely fielded a hit and under armed into Ravi on the bag. The second out came from a great tag by Jack at home plate and Alex struck the third out. A big hit by one of the batters to left field should have been caught but tentative fielding saw the ball drop short. Score 1 – 4.
The second innings was Melbourne’s best at bat for the game scoring 5 runs for the innings. Chris, using that new bat, belted one at the pitcher and made it on base. Ed followed with a strong base hit along the ground to centrefield and then Ravi was walked. With bases loaded, Jimmy Mac was walked bringing in Chris. At this stage the Cheltenham coach called a lengthy time out to confer with his team at the mound. If nothing else it served to stem the momentum. Jack flyed out at home plate and then Cal brought a couple in from a great hit to left field. Alex was run out at 1 st , again. Hugh brought home a couple from a monster hit to right field but was again left on base as Conor struck out.
Melbourne ’s defensive game tightened in the bottom of the 2 nd with Cheltenham scoring 3 runs. After walking the first batter, the second was brilliantly caught by Cal at left centrefield running hard and catching high and above his right side. Great athleticism. Jack was starting to control the game from behind the plate and the team could be seen to lift its game in the field. Two big hits saw the next two batters make home before Conor nicely took a hit wide of first and ran to the bag to effect the out and the third out also came from a hit and throw to first. Score 6 – 7.
Cheltenham brought on a new pitcher in the top of the 3 rd with immediate results. Melbourne failed to score.
After 2 walks, a strike out and a run, Hugh replaced Alex as pitcher and was soon right on target. The next 2 batters were up and out very quickly both hitting to the infield and being run out at 1 st. Score 6 – 8.
Trying to capitalize on restraining Cheltenham, Melbourne could only score 1 run in the 4 th from a base hit to centrefield by Cal and subsequent steal home.
In the bottom of the 4 th Melbourne was able to restrain Cheltenham to just 1 run. Hugh struck out the first and third batters with the fourth batter magnificently tagged at 3 rd from a superb throw from Jack to Ed. Score 7 – 9.
Needing at least 2 runs to stay in the game, Melbourne batted with grim determination in the top of the 5 th to score 3 runs and take the lead. The tension took its toll as Ed was run out trying to steal 2 nd and Ravi, after a glorious hit to centrefield, turned his back on the ball to speak with the coach only to be tagged out at 3 rd. With 2 out and no runs it looked grim but Jimmy, Jack and Cal all made it round to give the Red Sox a chance. The innings closed when Hugh flyed out to 3 rd base leaving Alex stranded.
Could the Red Sox do it? Could they hold Cheltenham? The pressure was right on Hugh especially as the strike zone seemed to be narrowing as the match wore on. The first batter was walked. The second batter hit to Alex at short stop who was able to brilliantly tag the lead runner and then throw to 1 st to try to effect the double play. 1 out, no runs. The third batter, sitting on a full count after some very close calls, base hit to centrefield bringing home the runner. 1 out, scores level. The fourth batter was struck out. 2 out, scores level. The next batter got on base leaving the bases loaded. Hugh could not afford to walk the next batter. After the first 3 pitches were called balls it looked like it was all over, but Hugh was somehow able to compose himself to throw 2 strikes. Full count. The next pitch couldn’t be a ball. The final pitch was right in the zone but was hit along the ground to centrefield. Cal came rushing in from the outfield. If by some miracle he could sweep up the ball and keep running to 2 nd base … It didn’t happen and Cheltenham was able to bring home the winning run. What a fantastic game.
Congratulations to everyone for really putting in and contributing to the team’s performance.
|
INNINGS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
T |
|
RED SOX |
1 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
10 |
|
CHELTENHAM |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
12 |
U14 Metro East - Round 6, 20 Nov 2005
|
|
Club |
P |
W |
L |
D |
Bye |
For |
Ag |
Pct |
Pts |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Blackburn |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
|
112 |
7 |
941 |
12 |
|
2 |
Cheltenham |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
|
101 |
38 |
727 |
12 |
|
3 |
Melbourne |
6 |
5 |
1 |
|
|
81 |
56 |
591 |
10 |
|
4 |
Waverley |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
90 |
68 |
570 |
8 |
|
5 |
Sandringham |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
56 |
46 |
549 |
8 |
|
6 |
Malvern |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
62 |
516 |
6 |
|
7 |
Berwick |
6 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
57 |
54 |
514 |
4 |
|
8 |
Upwey FTG |
6 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
59 |
66 |
472 |
4 |
|
9 |
Springvale |
6 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
50 |
70 |
417 |
4 |
|
10 |
Doncaster |
6 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
53 |
86 |
381 |
4 |
|
11 |
Moorabbin |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
23 |
99 |
189 |
0 |
|
12 |
SLBC-Haileybury |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
25 |
121 |
171 |
0 |
| 
