1sts vs Cheltenham - Lost 1-3
The 1sts have again gone down in extra innings, this time 3 -1 to Cheltenham in 10 innings at Surrey Park. The score line was nil all after 9 innings. Cheltenham scored 3 runs in the top of the 10th ( two on errors). In the bottom of the 10th the 1sts scored 1 and had bases loaded but unfortunately that was were it ended.
Winning pitcher pitcher was Cheltenham's Blake Cunningham on 3 2/3 inn for 2 hits 3 strikeouts 3 baseball on balls and 1 earned run. Jonathon Wiggins took the loss on 3 inn 5 hits 1 strikeout 2 bb 1 wild pitch ( that cost a run ) 3 earned runs. Andy Mann started for Melbourne going 7 inn for 3 hits 7 strike outs 2 bb & no runs, a very fine effort in gale forced conditions. Left hander Adam Blackly started for Chelt going 4 inn for 2 hits 6 strikeouts 4 bb & no runs.
The telling statistic of the day is that Melbourne left 13 runners on base.
Hits for Melbourne were Nathan Jones ( 2 singles ), Brad Harman & Robbie Hondo one single apiece.
Now daylight savings has kicked in there is plenty of opportunity to work on the hitting which has so far been lacking at times this year.
2nds vs Cheltenham - Lost 2-8
Once again Ben Telford gave the team the start they required, scoreless baseball for the first 3 innings until silly throwing errors cost us runs. Further fielding errors in the subsequent innings amassed a total of 8 runs for Cheltenham. Without looking at the scorebook, by my count 6 were unearned. Justin Gourlay was impressive tossing a hitless inning with only about 30 seconds notice.
Our bats struggled this week. Brendan Mann once again the stand out getting on base 3 times. Ben Telford managed a double, whilst Brent Davine did what he is capable of doing with a hard hit line drive to left field and Tristan Field chipped in with a single. 3 hits for the game is insufficient to win.
Chris Harman once said “the only thing you can always bring to the ball park is hustle”. When we are not hitting the ball, not catching the ball, not fielding the ball and not hitting targets with throws, the minimum you must be doing is hustling.
The one major highlight from this weekend is that day light savings has finally kicked in. The benefit of this is that we have light until 8.00 pm to train with, thus there are no excuses for non-attendance at training.
3rds vs Cheltenham - Lost 11-12
After a sloth inspired hiatus from the pages of Batchat the time had come to once again inform the readers of the trials and tribulations of the MCC Baseball Section illustrious third nine. After a couple of rough outings against last years finalists in Sunshine and Malvern, the young threes side were eager to get things rolling against the newly promoted Cheltenham club.
Things started slowly for the Demons as Cheltenham worked a 2-0 advantage through 2 innings. In the top of the third the Melbourne offence clicked into gear and seven runs crossed the plate. Cheltenham hit back in the bottom half against a tiring Shaun Mead but Melbourne managed to hold onto a 7-6 advantage. Youngster Bryce Taylor took the hill and did an outstanding job, meanwhile the Melbourne bats had be slowed but not stopped and the score line rolled along to 11-8 through six. Four minutes short of the elusive 5 minute rule and the game was going to a seventh innings in which Cheltenham's knack of blooping gaps finally got them over the line 12-11.
It was a much improved effort from the Melbourne threes with 13 hits on the day including three to Campbell Wiggins, two to Adam Promnitz in his first game off the disabled list, two to Jason Mann and two to Bryce Taylor to go along with his strong effort on the mound. With that kind of offensive production you have to think the 3s are bound to make an impact on the W column soon.
4ths vs Cheltenham - Won 11-1
Big wins recently, what is going on? Only one team knows, share the wins.
Women's Division 2 - vs Doncaster - Lost 13-14
Sounds like a cracker, someone send us a short note to let everyone else know what happened.
Under 18 State vs Geelong - Lost 0-12
Geelong: 56001 = 12
Melb/Donc 00000 = 0
Unfortunately, not much to report this week as Geelong were on song - hitting strongly to take the game by the 10 run rule in only 75 minutes.
Strong offence saw the opposition jump out of the blocks with 5 runs in the first and another 6 in the second. Rhett started once again on the hill with Jacko required to get the last out in top of 5. Josh was the only batter to register a safe hit and the potential RBI was gunned at the plate 9 to 2 for the 3rd out. Andy made 4 good plays in centre with an 8-3 attempt just failing. Geelong picked up 12 hits and their hurlers completed their assignment, tossing only 51 pitches.
Play of the day: Dane, behind the dish took a great catch on a high foul pop up in very blustery conditions.
Coach's quip: "difficult to beat consistent solid bats"
Hits: 1, Josh Bevis
Under 16 State vs Waverley - WON 11-8
Melbourne 11 Waverley 8
I don't know about you but it always seems a long drive to Waverley, made even longer on the way back if you lose! Well, today wasn't one of those days. Eventhough a gale was blowing in from the north and the temperature seemed to be climbing the young Demons were there to do a job.
The 1st inning saw the boys apply the pressure. Justin got on 1st with a bunt, then Brad delivered a neat sacrafice bunt, Emmo walked then Alex rocketed a L/F drive that brought Justin and Emmo home. Campbell steared one past S/S to C/F getting Alex over the plate. A 3 run start. In reply Campbell had 3 up and 3 down with Justin cleaning up twice at S/S. The 2nd inning saw Bryce and Brad stranded on base with no further score. Cam again had 3 up 3 down with Chris making 2 outs at 2nd. Third inning and Alex lit up with a high ball one bounce to C/F fence but to no avail as everyone else struck out. Bottom of the 3rd and the nuts on the wheels came loose and 2 runs were scored by Waverley.
But the Demons struck back immediately in the 4th with 3 good at-bats from Jack, Bryce and Justin to load bases. Then Brad hit a L/F flyout which was enough to score Jack. Tristan then took a ball for the Team again loading bases then a rather miraculous line drive home run over the L/F fence by Cam brought them all home. Chris followed up with a single to R/F and Jack was unlucky with a well struck line drive being caught at S/S with Chris being pinged returning to 1st. Score at 9-2. Bottom of the 4th was a tad messy with Cam tiring on the mound. Alex took over and the damage was thankfully limited to 3 runs. Top of the 5th saw no change to the scoreboard. Alex accounted for the batters with no score in the bottom of the 5th. With time getting short the 6th became vital to win and the Demons didn't let up, firstly with Alex forcing a walk, Cam spearing a single to R/F, Chris and Jack walking which got Alex home then Bryce letting one rip through 3rd base scoring Cam.
This gave the Team an 11-5 lead which was going to be hard for Waverley to overcome. They gave it a good shot though but fell short by 3 runs giving the Demons their 3rd consecutive win. It was a match that both sides dearly wanted to win as the rivalry between the 2 teams carries on from 2 years ago in the U14s. The Demons produced some great batting in diffcult conditions with guys like Bryce and Jack beginning to find form.
The pitchers did enough to maintain the lead throughout and the fielding was terrific with outfield flies by Brad and infield hustle from Justin and Chris. This was a great game to watch, everyone did their bit.
Finally to Harley who had a miserable day trying to fend of a virus ... you'll get 'em next time matey!
Under 16 Metro vs Malvern - Lost 2-16
Under 14 vs Berwick Grey - Won 19-1
Some good wins of late, someone send something in to let us know how things are going.
Little League - Rounds 2 and 3
Round 2 saw Melbourne reds play our first game after the previous weeks round robin. We were competitive from the start but went down 15-10 against Ormond Glenhuntly.
Round 3 took us out to Napier Park to take on Waverley Panthers. The weather was horrific and strong winds and dust blew up into the face of the fielders all morning. Pitching was tough into the wind but David, Charlie and Liam all tried hard.
Our batting and base running were excellent, boys were selecting the right pitches to hit and were always alive on base, we scored runs on several pass balls which is not easy when you are not able to “take a lead” before the pitch.
Waverley had some older boys and good pitching and ended up winning 28-13 but we can be pleased with our effort.
The highlights were Brodie making a courageous attempt to tag out a charging base runner about twice his size and our pitcher Liam twice asking a batter if he was OK after an accidental foul into his face, great sportsmanship.
Boston Redsox vs Colorado Rockies - WON Game Four - 4 to 3 and clinch World Series 4 games to 0.
As Melbourne is an official sister city of Boston, it stands to reason that we could call the Melbourne Baseball Club and un-official sister club of the Boston Red Sox (the logic works for me anyway). Given this completely made up yet, for the purpose of this article, compelling link between the two baseballing establishments aforementioned, I think we should acknowledge and congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their recent World Series demolition of the Colorado Rockies. Of course for many of the Boston players the 2004 experience is still fresh enough in their minds for them to know what to expect now they have climbed the mountain again as evidenced by Boston's "Big Papi" David Ortiz supposedly saying shortly after the game four win: "This is so sweet - now we get to be in Batchat again! | 
