1sts vs Geelong - WON 3-2
The 1sts have defeated reigning premiers Geelong 3 - 2 in 10 innings in a very tight game at Geelong on Sunday. Daryn Cassidy started on the mound going 7 innings, striking out 5 and giving up 1 run. Brendan Ratcliffe was the winning pitcher. Coming in as relief pitcher for MCC and going 3 innings. An unearned run scored.
Geelong left hander Chris Humphrey tied up the MCC bats for 7 innings before being replaced by Matt Scutchings who gave up 2 earned runs.
In the 8th, still locked up at 0-0, a high change-up by Cassidy found the Geelong batter out in front. The high slap shot over left field bounced on the top of the fence before going over the 322 mark. Just.
In the 9th, Matt Houlden beat a full swing bunt to second base. Good team batting allowed the tiing run to cross the plate. Unfortunately that was all that was possible in the 9th.
In the bottom of the 9th a lead off double failed to score as the Melbouren defence held tight. An intentional walk loaded up the bases with 1 out. A hard hit ground ball to Jordan Mitchelhill got one force at the plate but that still left 2 out and bases loaded. A pop fly to right and the inning was over.
In the top of the 10th a lead off walk to Dunny followed by a perfect hit and run by Brendan Ratcliffe to right field allowed Dunny to turn slowly around 2nd and dive head first into third to just beat an excellent throw from right field. Another hit and a couple of walks allowed 2 runs to score. Geelong scored 1 in the bottom of the 10th but that was all as the 1sts held on for the important win.
Because of illness to Brett Caulfield and the absence of Mark Doubleday and the need to shuffle the team around some new faces were added to the line up. The infield was a sight to behold with outstanding juniors - Andy Mann ( 16yrs ) at 3rd, Robby Hondo ( 18yrs ) at Short and Jordan Mitchelhill ( 17yrs ) at Second.
Hits went to Brendan Ratcliffe ( 1 double & 2 singles ) who drove in a run, Jordan Mitchelhill hit a double and drove in a run, Robby Hondo had a single and drove in a run. Singles also to Matt Houlden, Michael Dunn & Tim Frost.
MCC have been struggling to get its best team on the park each week due to illness and absentees. Another two important players will be missing next week for the game against in form Essendon.
Div 1 - Round 4, 29 Oct 2006
| |
Team |
P |
W |
L |
D |
Bye |
Pts |
For |
Ag |
Pct |
|
| 1 |
Essendon |
6 |
5 |
1 |
|
|
10 |
59 |
17 |
776 |
| 2 |
Waverley |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
32 |
21 |
604 |
| 3 |
Bonbeach |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
25 |
22 |
532 |
| 4 |
Blackburn |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
26 |
26 |
500 |
| 5 |
Geelong |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
28 |
21 |
571 |
| 6 |
Malvern |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
35 |
27 |
565 |
| 7 |
Melbourne |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
19 |
15 |
559 |
| 8 |
Sunshine |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
4 |
18 |
25 |
419 |
| 9 |
Sandringham |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
|
0 |
20 |
52 |
278 |
| 10 |
Newport |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
0 |
9 |
45 |
167 |
Women Division 1 vs Werribee - Lost 5-14
Ther girls started the home campaign with a loss to Werribee 14-4, the girls who as hard as they tried couldn't convert opportunities to outs struggled from the start of the game. However there certainly times where the potential that the girls have proven they have in the past did shine through with a stunning double play rolledby Bec at third to Lee then to
Merryn. The girls have faced three games and lost however with the the signs seen on saturday the team certainly knows that they have their best baseball yet ahead of them.
Girls play Malvern at Malvern next week 3:30pm start!
2nds vs Geelong - Lost 1-11
A tough game against the top of the table Geelong down at Geelong.
3rds vs Geelong - Lost 9-2
For the third time in four games the thirds squared off against one of last seasons finalists, for the third time they left without the points. Unlike last week against Waverley the thirds came into the game a little flat and Geelong were quick to capitalise adding three runs in the top of the first. Thirds baseball is won by the team who puts the ball in play the most and Geelong put on an exhibition into the validity of this statement the Demons on the other hand struggled mightily against the peppy young Geelong pitcher, mustering only four hits for the day. Shaun Mead battled well to keep Melbourne in the game but with the lack of offensive support his efforts were in vain. Melbourne's two runs came late and on passed balls by which stage Geelong had well and truly taken their foot off the pedal. The offensive production will need to improve if the thirds are going to return the results they are capable of.
4ths vs Geelong - WON 9-8
No match report submitted
Masters WON 6-3
Not submitted
Under 18 State vs Newport/Sunshine - Drew 5-5
Superb pitching by Andrew Mann and solid defence saw Melbourne reach a 5-1 lead late in the game. But unfortunately, Melbourn ran out of steam and allowed Newport/Sunshine to find their way back to draw the game.
Melbourne U18s Match Report Round 2 (22/10/06)
Melbourne 11 Preston 9
The U18s travelled to Latrobe University on a beautiful Spring morning (although a tad chilly) to take on Preston. The match started well for the Demons with Jordan and Jono scoring the first runs on a huge hit to R/F by Jamie. Jono opened the pitching in workman like fashion with 3 up and down. The 2nd inning saw 2 more runs to Melbourne the first by Jackson from a hit by Rhett to S/S and the second by Rhett from a walk on Jono. Essendon scored their first run in the second inning on a throwover to 2nd that didn't come off.
The Melbourne bats couldn't quite get on top in the 3rd and Preston made the most of an infield error to score their second run. The 4th inning saw the Demons bats blazing with Rhett scoring on a bomb by Jordan to C/F, Jordan scoring on R/F fly by Jono, Andy scoring on a hit to 3rd by Jamie and Jamie scoring on a banana bending line drive to R/F by Josh. Jono remained solid on the mound conceding a run from another blown throwover to 2nd. In the 5th the Demons settled back to a routine 2 runs with Jackson over the plate from a hit to R/F by James and Jordan home from a monster hit to C/F by Andy. Jono, on his second appearance on the hill since last season, was still holding together and allowed Prestons 4th run on a curve ball that evaded the catcher.
The Demons thinking their job had been done eased off in the 6th scoring 1 run through Jamie on a hit by Nick to 2nd. However, it wasn't over as everyone thought! Jordan pitching in relief found the Preston bats were not about to pack up their kit bags just yet. While Jordy was trying to settle in the Preston boys went for it and all of a sudden a walk, 2 HBPs, 3 hits, an infield error turned the game into a close call, but none the less it was a win and there were some pleasing signs. James playing his first game came away with 2 hits, Jackson blazed away with with a big hit to R/F and Josh let it rip with an absolute teaser past the 1st baseman. Second week in a row the pitching stood firm with Jono going 5 innings with 2 hits and 6 strike outs.
Stats
Pitching Jono 5INNS 2H 6SO 1BB 1ER 4R
Batting 2H Rhett, Jordan, Andy, Jamie, James
1H Jono, Josh, Jackson
Field Errors 6 infield
Under 16 State vs Upwey/Ftg - Lost 6-9
For the second week in a row, the U/16s were up against another top team at Upwey.
The strong Upwey lineup retired our first three hitters at the top of the 1st in succession. Campbell Wiggins started on the mound fro the Demons and quickly found the zone, fanning all thre Upwey hitters, and the score was 0-0 after the 1st.
Top of the 2nd and we had runners on base in scoring position. Jack Rintoul in his first game at State League level drove in the first 2 runs of the game with a line drive to centre field, combined with a few errors from the Upwey defence and safe hits to Chris Karabatsos and Tristan Field, and suddenly the Demons were up 6-0. In Upwey's equalising turn at bat, the Demons blew away the good start, by once again some fundamental errors in the outfield, allowing 4 runs to cross the plate.
Upwey then brought in Andrew Jones, arguably one of the best pitchers in the state for this age group and he proceeded to silence our hitters for the next 3 innings. Upwey were able to level the scores through some good hitting and eventually their strength proved too strong for our young U/16 team, taking the game 9 - 6.
Worth noting, until the weekend, Upwey only had 4 runs scored against them in 2 games, so for the Demons to come out and score 6 in one game speaks magnitudes for our hitting, which continues to be our strength, with a win not far away.
Special mention to Jayson Shaw, who threw out 2 Upwey runners by 5 meters trying to steal 2nd base.
fyi.................batting stats attached.
Melbourne 6 defeated by Upwey 9
Safe Hits:-
Tristan Field (1 Single)
Jack Rintoul (1 Single)
Campbell Wiggins (1 Single)
Chris Karabatsos (1 Single)
Melbourne V Newport - 22/10/06
The U/16s first home game of the new season was against an experienced Newport team, and we welcomed big Jayson Shaw for his first game back since last year.Alex Hondo started on the mound and pitched reasonably well, keeping the Newport hitters at bay for 3 innings, through excellent infield work, especially Chris Karabatsos at 2nd base.Once again our hitting was quite strong for a 1st year line up, with Justin Gourlay leading the way. After 3 innings, the Demons were in control at 4 - 0.Unfortunately, like last week, we took the foot off the pedal in the top of the 4th and made some fundamental mistakes in the outfield, which opened the door for Newport and they proceeded to score 4 unearnt runs.Alex was relieved by Campbell Wiggins who pitched extremely well for 2 innings, giving up only 1 run. At 5-4 down we rallied again with another 3 safe hits evening up the contest.So at 5 runs a piece we were at the bottom of the 6th with none out and a runner at 1st, only to see a controversial decision go against us at the plate resulting in a double play through 2nd base.......that's life. Our pitchers did a great job keeping Newport to just 1 safe hit in 6 digs, whilst our young team collected 7 safe hits, in a game were we outplayed Newport all morning and should have resulted in our first win of the season. ps..............
Congratulations are extended to BIG Jason Shaw who has been selected in the Victorian U/16 State Team......well done Jason. Also, good luck to Tristan Field this weekend in his final tryout for the VPBL U/16 Representive Team as well.
Melbourne 5 drew with Newport 5 Safe Hits:- Jayson Shaw (2 Singles)Tristan Field (1 Single)Justin Goulay (1 Single)Emerson Satur (1 Single)Campbell Wiggins (1 Single)
Chris Karabatsos (1 Single)
Under 16 State - Melbourne/Waverley vs Geelong - Lost 1-21
Not Submitted
Under 14 vs Doncaster - WON 16-2
This game was a remarkable turnaround from last week where the team came out with confidence and really turned it on for the spectators. Brandon Hough pitched the entire game, found the mound a little challenging for the first 2 batters but soon settled in to a magnificent pitching effort holding Doncaster to 2 runs in 5 innings, pitching 70% strikes from 65 pitches in the game.
Stephen Joyce caught the game and did a fantastic job with very few balls getting away from him. Both players coming off serious illness during the week which was even more remarkable. The entire Team did the hard work with the bat hitting in 22 safe hits for the game in a fantastic display of confidence. Patrick Politis led the charge with 4 from 5 and all 2 base hits. Mitchell Armstrong turned on a display which earned him respect in the team batting 4 from 4 with one 2 base hit. 3 hits from 5 went to Chris Vapp (missing one massive crack which went over the cones by 5 metres and foul by 1 metre) including two 2 base hits, Brandon Hough hit 3 from 5 including an in-play home run.
Stephen Joyce also had a great day out at bat slamming 3 hits from 4 appearances. Matt Abbott also secured his place in the team with 2 big hits from 4, well done Matt. Courtney Kapernick, Mitchell Kelly and Sebastian Dunbar rounded off the days display with their own flash of brilliance with 1 hit each. In the field these players really turned it on with very few errors it was truly a great display of Junior Baseball. Mitchell Kelly proved again he is a natural at first with a great pair of safe hands playing a role in 8 outs including 2 great catches. Courtney and Sebastian had great smiles on their faces at the end of the game which was a great sight to see.
Well done Team you have worked together and made us all proud of your efforts. Thanks go to Andrew Williams, Rod Vapp and Tony Joyce for your support on the day.
Under 12 vs Doncaster - WON 8-0
Not submitted
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