Mens 1sts – beat Newport 6-4
Courtesy Leader Newspaper Group
Demons are on the mend - Whitehorse Leader 30/11/2005
SURREY Park-based Melbourne has strung together back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Demons, who beat Upwey Ferntree Gully last week, rost to seventh on the Victorian Baseball Association Division 1 table after defeating Newport 10-4 at Surrey Park on Sunday.
Newport Pitcher David Asp, who had the Demons' measure on several occaisons last year, conceded 12 hits as the MCC bats found some consistency. Melbourne's Daryn Cassidy struck out 10 batters in a seven-inning effort that proved he is on the mend from a hamstring injury. Centrefielder Michael Dunnn, still carrying a hamstring injury, was the star with the bat along with Mark Doubleday.
With Lee Crossley
Mens 2nds – lost to Newport 4-1
Sean Mean started for the first time in the seconds a did a very good job, managing to hold the Newport attack only four runs on the day. Unfortunately the offence was sadly lacking. While scoring one run early, Melbourn failed to capatilise upon opportunities leaving bases loaded twice and many more runners on throughout the day.
Mens 3rds – lost to Newport 11-2
No match report submitted
Mens 4ths – Won against Newport 10-9
No match report submitted
Ladies – beat St. Kilda 27-9
No match report submitted
Masters – lost to Newport 10-1
No match report submitted
Under 18 Melbourne – beat Spring/Berw 3-1
No match report submitted
Under 18 Melbourne/Doncaster – drew to Will/Port 7-7
No match report submitted
Under 16 – lost to Essendon 15-0
After a heartbreaking last innings loss to Upwey the week before the Under 16’s were set to come out firing against a worthy opponent in Essendon. Instead it was Essendon who did all the firing as they cruised to an easy win in what was simply Melbourne’s most disappointing outing of the year. The only highlight for the Melbourne team on this dirty day was the play of Josh Bevis who, through his positive attitude, general hustle and willingness to do anything to help his team, set an exemplary example of how we all should conduct ourselves on the diamond.
Under 14 Demons – lost to Sandringham 7-8
No match report submitted
Under 14 Red Sox – lost to Sandringham 15-8
ROUND 7 27/11/05 Sandringham Royals v Melbourne Red Sox at Macleay Park
The Red Sox suffered their second defeat for the season as the team went down to the more accomplished Sandringham Royals at Macleay Park. Although Melbourne always looked as though they might threaten, they just couldn’t get the runs on the board and in the end lost 15 – 8 (just how that works when Melbourne’s final innings was called ‘time & game’ with only 2 outs is anyone’s guess – we couldn’t win but we might have scored a few more).
Coach Lenny (complete with new Kombi van) was lost to the finer pleasures of a modern day hippy festival and was replaced by Coach Tom. Thanks Tom – appreciate you being there. Alex was sacrificed to meet the needs of the Under 16s whilst Jai was rotated to the Under 14 State team. Returning to the team were Tom and Courtenay.
In the top of the 1 st Cal took to the pitcher’s mound and in a very creditable performance was able to strike out 3 of the 6 batters that came to the plate, conceding only 3 runs.
Initially it looked promising for the Red Sox as Jack was walked and made it round to home plate. After Cal was run out at 1 st (was called out should I say on what looked like a pretty dubious decision) and Hugh flyed out to short stop, Conor showed fine judgment and a keen eye to gain a walk. It was looking good as Conor stole to 2 nd and then Ravi smashed one but unfortunately got into all sorts of trouble being a little too ambitious between 1 st and 2 nd bases, before eventually being tagged for the side away. Score 3 - 1.
In the 2 nd innings, the Sandringham batters started to find their range and a succession of strong hits led to 5 runs. Unfortunately the Melbourne defensive game just couldn’t stem the flow despite a nice pick up and throw by Hugh to Ravi and a nice attempt to tag at home plate by Jack. The innings closed after Cal and Jack had a powwow at the mound followed by a terrific pick off to Ed on the runner stealing from 2 nd to 3 rd. A really well thought out move.
Melbourne responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 2 nd innings with Ed, Chris, Jack and Cal all making it round the diamond. Ed was walked and then in throwing his bat back almost managed to kill the waiting Chris. This must have fired up Chris as he pounded one out between left and centrefield for a base hit (I’m not suggesting we do this every time Chris comes to the plate, but it does seem to work). Jack brought home Ed and Chris with another big hit over short stop. Cal gained a base hit to centrefield and then for some inexplicable reason became embroiled in a fascinating war of wills with the pitcher who seemed mesmerized by Cal stepping off the base. Suddenly the game took a different dimension as the pitcher stepped off the mound to try to ‘out stare’ the ever alert Cal. In the end Cal clearly won that battle as he stole to 2 nd and the pitcher was replaced. The innings closed when Hugh, who had been walked after being hit by a bouncing pitch, was tagged trying to steal home on a pass ball. Score 9 – 5.
In the 3 rd, Sandringham’s first 2 batters were able to score before the third was thrown out at 1 st and the next, having had his softball bat removed on Coach Tom’s protest, struck out trying to swing the heavier baseball bat. Tom replaced Cal on the mound with bases loaded. The first batter was walked to concede a run but the second was soon out as Hugh at short stop tossed to Courtenay on 2 nd.
With the score on 11 - 5, Melbourne needed to make up ground in the bottom of the 3 rd but was retired without scoring. Ravi, Ed and Courtenay all managed to gain walks but couldn’t score before James smacked one only to be run out at first for the third out. (At this stage the parents’ attention had turned to a most interesting story about the time Mick left a restaurant with toilet paper trailing from his trousers… but I digress).
In the 4 th innings Sandringham was able to score 4 runs to gain an unassailable lead. The Melbourne defense tried hard to stem the flow and at one stage a strong throw from Ed at 3 rd almost took out Courtenay at 2 nd as the swinging ball grazed her glove and then her forehead. For a moment we were drawing straws on who would call Mum but to her credit Courtenay shrugged it off and continued on.
After the first 2 batters, Jack and Cal, were out on a Cal fly ball, it looked like the 4 th innings would be soon over but runs to Hugh, Tom and Ravi improved the situation. After Ed was struck in the kidneys from a fastball pitch (Chris noted that there is justice in the world!) and both Chris and Courtenay were walked, with bases loaded and with 2 out, the game was called. Strange game if actual scores count towards anything – how does that percentage work?
So what did we learn from the game?
- Its very dangerous to try to steal home from 3 rd base on a pass ball – unless you have stolen halfway there and have the speed of Cal.
- The Sandringham defensive game was very well drilled – they knew what to do, knew where to throw the ball, knew how to play their bases and attacked fly balls.
- We can beat them if we are on our game.
- Thanks Keli for the sprint training during the week – lets keep that going as the team seemed to be a little quicker.
|
INNINGS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
T |
|
SANDRINGHAM |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
15 |
|
RED SOX |
1 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
8 |
U14 Metro East - Round 7, 27 Nov 2005
|
|
Club |
P |
W |
L |
D |
Bye |
For |
Ag |
Pct |
Pts |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Blackburn |
7 |
7 |
0 |
|
|
120 |
14 |
896 |
14 |
|
2 |
Cheltenham |
7 |
7 |
0 |
|
|
116 |
40 |
744 |
14 |
|
3 |
Sandringham |
7 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
54 |
568 |
10 |
|
4 |
Melbourne |
7 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
89 |
71 |
556 |
10 |
|
5 |
Waverley |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
97 |
76 |
561 |
8 |
|
6 |
Malvern |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
84 |
67 |
556 |
8 |
|
7 |
Berwick |
7 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
70 |
58 |
547 |
6 |
|
8 |
Springvale |
7 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
70 |
82 |
461 |
6 |
|
9 |
Upwey FTG |
7 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
71 |
86 |
452 |
4 |
|
10 |
Doncaster |
7 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
57 |
99 |
365 |
4 |
|
11 |
Moorabbin |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
28 |
117 |
193 |
0 |
|
12 |
SLBC-Haileybury |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
136 |
166 |
0 |
Pitching for a Giant step foward in life - Whitehorse Leader 30/11/2005
TRISTAN Field has a natural talent for baseball. The 13 year-old pitcher from the Surrey Park-based Melbourne Demons has been selected to represent Victoria in the Under-14 team at the national championships in January. Tristan said he was determined to succeed in his baseball career and took every opportunity to train. His official schedule put him through his paces three or four times a week, but Tristan said he used his own time for running, throwing against a mat and hitting off a tee.
While he played shor tstop and left field, he said his preferred position wass pitching. 'I had a strong arm and my coach pitched me a few times and I started to really like it,' Tristan said. Coach Greg Hondromatidis said Tristan's hard work had improved his skills. 'He's really come to life this year through his own work ethic,' Mr Hondromatidis said. 'He probably has one of the stronger arms in the state at the moment.'
Tristan came to Victoria three years ago from New South Wales, where he played for the Greenway Giants. 'I'm looking foward to going to Queensland and pitching to my old team mates and showing them my new-found speed,' he said.
His dream is to go to the US and play for his favourite team, the San Francisco Giants. Mr Hondromatidis said playing for the state team would help Tristan consolidate his skills. 'I think now with the added, intense training sessions his baseball will improve out of sight,' he said.
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