Mens 1sts – beat Newport 6-4
Courtesy Leader Newspaper Group
Demons' season on the skids - Whitehorse Leader 7/12/05
MELBOURNE chairman of selectors Matt Duckworth has conceded that the Demons’ season may be over if they let their remaining Division 1 games before Christmas slip. The Surrey Park-based Demons share equal last with Fitzroy and Upwey-Ferntree Gully with a 4-10 win-loss record. And, if they lose their last three games before the mid-season break, the battle to avoid relegation will begin when Division 1 action resumes after Christmas.
'If we lose these games, I think we’ll be in trouble,' Duckworth said. 'I think the rest of the season will be devoted to avoiding relegation.' Duckworth stressed how important it is that MCC stays in Division 1. 'Division 1 is the top of baseball in Victoria and Melbourne regards itself as a Division 1 club. 'We don’t want to play in second division.' But, as the injury toll continues to mount and the Demons pitching supplies dry up, Duckworth admits the looming mid-season break couldn’t be timelier.
'We’ve gone from playing in the Grand Final to struggling to put a side on the park,' he said. 'It’s just been a horror season.' The horror run continued at Altona on Thursday night when the Demons met another relegation contender in Fitzroy. Keen to make amends on their loss to the Lions earlier in the season, Melbourne started positively and led right up until the final inning. But with just two fit pitchers to call on, and a match scheduled just three days later, Tim Frost was forced to tough it out for the last inning. 'We had no-one to close for us,' Duckworth said.
'At this level, if you throw the ball anywhere near the plate, they can hit it.' And hit it Fitzroy did – well. Five last-inning runs were enough to sink Melbourne and dampen their spirits, which had been so high all night. The Demons met Essendon at Surrey Park on Sunday and were keen to put Thursday’s loss behind them. In difficult, windy conditions, MCC trailed 2-0 at the bottom of the ninth and were still in with a chance. But Bombers pitcher Casey Jones, as he had all day, didn’t give the Melbourne hitters an inch as MCC failed to score. The Demons have three games before Christmas to find form: Blackburn (away) on Sunday, Geelong (Altona) and Sunshine (away).
In other grades, the Seconds beat Essendon 3-1, the Thirds lost 14-3 but the Fourths won 16-5
With Lee Crossley
Mens 2nds – beat Essendon 3-1
Ben Telford returning from his 1 week holiday was sensational on the mound all day only giving up one hit. And when that happens, you don't have to do all that much with the bat to win. Although it was a pretty poor performance with the bat with only a handful of hits on the day, enough was done to get over the line for the win. The seconds now face a tough challenge next week in Blackburn as we attempt to close the two game gap to the finals.
Mens 3rds – lost to Essendon 14-3
No match report submitted
Mens 4ths – Won against Essendon 16-5
No match report submitted
Ladies - Malvern beat the girls 11-8This game was close and exciting coming into the last dig. Both team hit the ball hard the only difference between the two teams was the amount of errors made early in the game. The girls have competed well in divison one, with every little results. The girls have now moved back to division two were they will a little more competitive
Masters – beat Waverley 15-1
No match report submitted
Under 18 Melbourne – beat Malvern 16-2
No match report submitted
Under 18 Melbourne/Doncaster – lost to Blackburn 8-12
No match report submitted
Under 16 – lost to Fitzroy 6-8No match report submitted
Under 14 Demons – beat Essendon 12-2
No match report submitted
Under 14 Red Sox – beat Moorabbin 18-2
ROUND 8 4/12/05 Melbourne Red Sox v Moorabbin Panthers at Moorabbin
The Red Sox returned to the winners list with a convincing 18 – 2 win over the young Moorabbin Panthers at Moorabbin.
With a full complement of 11 players (other than Alex who was on State team duties) and with Coach Lenny back at the helm, the Red Sox looked ready for business right from the word go. They warmed up well and seemed keen to avenge their successive losses over the past 2 weeks.
The first innings set the tone for the day with lead off hitter, Jack, walked, only to come home on a lovely base hit RBI from second batter Jai. Third up was Ed for another walk and then Hugh brought both Jai and Ed home on a solid 2 base hit to left field. Tom sacrificed to bring home Hugh and then Conor whacked one down the third base line for a base hit. Cal, again showing exceptional speed, belted the ball to centrefield and was able to run all the way round the diamond to score. 6 runs was a good start and proved to be the best innings for the day.
In the bottom of the first, Jai took the mound and indeed pitched the entire game giving up only 2 runs. An excellent effort, again showing the increasing depth of pitchers in the team. The first batter was able to score following a missed pick off attempt but then the next 3 batters went down in succession – the first struck out, the second was run out at 1 st base from a superb running pick up and throw from Cal at short stop, and the third was caught by Jack from a high pop fly at home plate.
The second innings started at the top of the order and again Jack was walked but was able to steal home. Jai pounded a big 3 base hit to centrefield ( the young outfielders looked a little bewildered) and then scored from a base hit to right field from Ed. Hugh and Courtney were both struck out as the pitching started to find its mark. Tom made a base hit but then was tagged at third running on Conor’s base hit down the 1 st base line. Conor made it but excellent defense saw Tom just short of the bag. The bottom of the second was over in a matter of minutes. The first 2 batters were struck out and then the third was run out from a lovely throw from Jack to 1 st. Score 9 – 1.
The third innings followed a similar pattern with runs to Cal, Jack and Jai. In the bottom of the third, Jack and Cal made way for Chris and Ravi with Tom pulling on the catcher’s gear. Tom and Ravi had immediate success running out the first batter from a dropped third strike. The second batter struck out and the third batter, who was walked, was tagged at first by the quick thinking Ravi as the batters foot came off the bag. Score 12 – 1.
The fourth innings saw runs to Conor, from a line drive to right field, to Chris, who opened his account with a first up 3 base smash, and to Ravi, who opened with a 2 base hit to centrefield. The Moorabbin innings again only saw 3 batters come to the plate. The first was out from delightful work from Chris who picked up and threw to Ravi at first and the third was brilliantly caught in the outfield by Jimmy Mac. The ball was hit high in the air and seemed to be taking an eternity to come down. Mum Amanda was frozen in suspended animation only to go wild when the catch was securely taken.
In the fifth, Hugh scored from a walk and was followed by Courtney who also scored after being walked. By this stage Coach Lenny had done the right thing and asked the team not to steal home but rather only score from hits to avoid demoralizing the opposition. Tom thought he was catching and flung out his left hand to catch a wayward pitch and was rewarded with a walk. Conor got a bit of a nasty whack in the mouth from a ball hit into the ground. The innings ended in pandemonium when Ravi flyed out but, with the batters thinking the side was 2 and not 1 out, they kept running rather than return to their base and were out at the bag. Cairan tells me he had it covered in the scorer’s book – no problems.
Moorabbin was able to score a run in the final innings from some wayward defence but then Jai shut down the innings for a fine win. Score 18 – 2.
It was good to secure the win and to stay in touch with the top teams. Jai’s pitching was excellent and overall it was a good team effort. It was very pleasing to see all members present and a happy band of supporting parents. Thanks to Sarah for the chocolates (now that’s a good innovation) and to Cairan for scoring.
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INNINGS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
T |
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RED SOX |
6 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
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18 |
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MOORABBIN |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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2 |
Under 12 - Demons
Melbourne Demons 13 defeated Waverley Panthers 12
This match was billed as the Grand Final replay of 2004 with Melbourne Demons keen to show Waverley that they are beatable!
The Demons jumped out of the blocks with Jack starting off the pitching conceding only 2 runs in the first dig. The highlight of the dig was a magnificent double play by Brandon at 2nd base taking a catch with bases loaded catching the runner off his base for the out. The Demons jumped out with 2 down and James hitting to 8 followed by Brandon's big double to 8 scoring the first run. This was followed by Brandon stealing home on a error at 2.
Scores level and Jack cleaned up the next 3 digs with no runs in. Some great fielding efforts from Sebastian and Danyon assisted in holding Waverley to 2 runs after 4 digs.
Melbourne Demons continued to add to their tally. The second dig saw Mitchell, Adam and Stephen hit well and cross the plate for another 3 runs. The 3rd dig resulted in Jack crossing for another. The 4th dig was our best with 5 runs brought home by some excellent batting from Mitchell,Adam, Stephen and Patrick's great double bagger to bat in 5 runs for the dig. Melbourne was up 11:2 in what seemed too good to be true. It was! Waverley came out in the 5th with all guns blazing smashing in 6 runs with our outfield not able to curtail the onslaught with half of the Waverley hits (6) coming from 1 dig. The young Demons could not respond, failing to add more runs despite 3 more hits for the dig. The score now Melbourne 11 Waverley 8.
Time to rethink the play as we headed for the 6th and what looked like final dig. Waverley continued to smash their way through Brandon's best pitching efforts whacking 5 more hits to score 4 runs and edge ahead of the Demons by 1 run. Some great catches from Ted at Short Stop and Tim at right field, stopping the onslaught. The Demons came out determined to make the runs back. Danyon was again unlucky with the bat hitting well but being thrown out at 1. James came to the plate and whacked a big hit to left followed by Brandon with a safe hit past 3rd base. Jack was next up and he hit long to left now bases loaded.
Klara came to the plate in what must have been a nerve racking appearance. She needed to hit to give the Demons a chance to win the game. Klara pulled out the best hit of her Baseball career past 2nd base and was safe at 1st. It was then Mitchell's bat with a safe hit past short to drive in the winning run...time and game was called and the Demons pulled off a spectacular victory, the only team to beat the U12's Waverley Panthers yet again, 2 seasons in a row.
My congratulations go to the 12 Melbourne players who contested this game with all contributing really well to secure a fantastic victory. The spectators were all enthusiastic and well entertained by a fantastic spectacle. With batting stats of 16 hits to Melbourne vs Waverley's 13 for a total of 29 hits in the game, the Demons were able to stamp their authority and pull this one out of the hat. There were only 5 walks for the entire game in what was a magnificent display of both Pitching and batting skills from each side.
Well done Demons you thoroughly deserved your VICTORY.
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