The 2019 Senior, Junior and Intermediate League Championships got off to a fantastic start at Geelong Baseball Centre on Saturday. Nearly 200 players on 13 teams across three competitions turned out to compete for a chance to win the state tournament and move on to the Australian Championships in May.
Eastern Athletics, Geelong Baycats, Southern Mariners, Sunraysia and Twins Baseball Charters are all well-represented, and the tournaments are shaping up to be the most successful yet.
Please check out results and recaps below. Good luck to everyone in tomorrow’s games and Monday’s finals!
Senior League
Game 1 – Field 1 9:30AM Sunraysia vs. Geelong Baycats 14 – 2
Sunraysia no-hits Geelong on the way to dominant win
After travelling over 100 kilometres just to participate in this tournament, Sunraysia have put on a dominant pitching display in a big win over the Geelong Baycats in the Senior League.
The dynamic duo of Lindsay Barbary and Cody Morrish combined for zero hits and only two runs as they pitched Sunraysia to victory. Barbary started for his side and struck out four in his two and a third innings before Morrish closed out the game.
An error started the scoring for Sunraysia, with three runs being put on in the first. The third inning saw six runs piled on, leading to a 12-1 advantage. Raiden Wakefield led the way with four hits from his four turns at the plate and batting in two runs.
Baycats starting pitcher James Lappin allowed four hits and six runs in his two innings before his teammates Sebastian Dew and William More finished the game, allowing eight more runs between them.
Game 2 – Field 2 9:30 AM Eastern Athletics vs. Twins 7 – 11
Fifth inning sparks Twins to come-from-behind win over Eastern Athletics.
A seven-run fifth inning has Sparked the Twins to a 7-11 win over Eastern Athletics in the Senior League.
Eastern got off to a hot start, leading six runs to four in the fifth inning. With scores locked at six a piece, Trenell Hutchins singled, scoring two runs. Three more runs in the inning and 12 hits for the game put the result out of doubt for the Twins.
Eastern Athletics will be a team to watch on the bases moving forward, having 10 steals in this game alone, including four players with two apiece.
Nathan Smith and Keenan Spence each batted in three runs for Twins and McLeod Sell had five strikeouts. For the Athletics, Jack Romanin brought in two runs off his bat and Jimin Lee scored two as well.
Game 3 – Field 1 12:30 PM Twins vs. Sunraysia 14 – 4
Twins win big over Sunraysia
Twins have defeated Sunraysia 14-4, thanks to an electrifying eight-run third inning.
Twins were dominant in all facets of the game, with 11 hits to one. Keenan Spence was big for Twins, scoring four runs off his bat alone.
Trenell Hutchins added 2 RBI’s of hiw own.
Alex Pham was unbelievable on the mound for Twins, throwing five strikeouts and giving up the solitary hit during his three innings of work. The Twins will look to carry this dominance into their early-morning matchup against Southern Mariners to start Day 2 on Sunday.
Game 4 – Field 2 12:30 PM Geelong Baycats vs. Southern Mariners 3 – 13
Mariners start and finish strong over Baycats
Southern Mariners have started and ended the game with five run innings in a strong performance over the Geelong Baycats, with the final score being 13-3.
Mariners were in control from the first inning, getting out to a big lead and building on it consistently throughout the game. The defence was also incredibly strong, with pitchers Felix Brunner, Jacob Dickinson and Xander Gunn only allowing one hit through the five inning game.
Blake Holding scored three runs for the Mariners and Tahj Rousell had two RBI’s as eight Southern players scored.
William More, Lucas Ash and Hayden Quattrocelli were the run scorers for Geelong.
Game 5 – Field 1 3:30 PM Eastern Athletics vs. Southern Mariners 8 – 14
Mariners sitting pretty after day one
The Southern Mariners are looking good after day one of the Senior League State Championships. After a comfortable 13-3 win to start the day, Tahj Rousell has guided his side to a 14-9 win over Eastern Athletics.
Athletics snatched the lead early after six runs in the first two innings before the Mariners came home with a wet sail, scoring 13 runs in the final two innings.
Cody Caulfield pitched extremely well for the Athletics, throwing four innings for only one hit and zero earned runs.
Rousell finished the game with six RBI’s, hitting three of four including a rare triple. Mitchell McGrath threw five efficient innings’ for the Mariners, ending with four strikeouts and two earned runs. The Mariners’ first test will be the Twins on Sunday morning, while Eastern Athletics will play Sunraysia.
JUNIOR LEAGUE
Game 1 – Field 4 9:30 AM Southern Mariners vs. Geelong Baycats 15 – 0
Mariners start with dominant shutout win
Southern Mariners have kicked off their Junior League campaign with a bang, defeating Geelong Baycats 15-0 to start the Junior League State Championships.
The Mariners were dominant from the jump, scoring eight runs in the first innings and rolling through the Geelong top order. Pitchers Matthew Atkins and Mason Haimona were unplayable, allowing two hits and no runs.
Tom Brookes, Tyler Ellis and Wesley Ka all hit home runs and Genevieve Beacom brought in two runs off her own bat.
Game 2 – Field 4 12:30 PM Eastern Athletics vs. Twins 18 – 2
Eastern dominant from the jump in win over Twins
Eastern have piled on the runs early in a dominating performance over Twins, running away 18-2 winners.
Tyler Evans was unstoppable for the Athletics, hitting two home runs and scoring another two off his bat. Ned Hargraves, Finley Ronalds-Greatbatch, James Squire and Jack Ratcliffe all hit home runs as well as Eastern put on an offensive clinic, totalling 17 hits.
Harrison Fitzgerald and Declan Spiers each scored for the Twins and were the only two who had multiple hits. The pitchers for Eastern all had a strong performance, giving up the lone earned run and combining for six strikeouts.
Game 3 – Field 4 3:00 PM Geelong Baycats vs. Eastern Athletics 1 – 24
Athletics put on offensive clinic in win over Baycats
Eastern Athletics have ended day one undefeated after another big win, this time dominating the Geelong Baycats 24-1.
Harry Elustondo and Finley Ronalds-Greatbatch both hit long bombs for the Athletics and Ned Hargreaves batted in three runs to add the monumental score.
Along with the crazy batting, Eastern also showed strong pitching. Matthew Johnston, Tyler Evans, Ned Hargreaves and Finley Ronalds-Greatbatch each pitched an inning and provided ten strikeouts while allowing just the solitary run.
Ronalds-Greatbatch also smashed a long bomb in an extraordinary performance.
“He really closed out the game,” Athletics EO Craig Mitchell said. “It was a solid performance by everyone really. All our pitchers did really well today. Our big test is tomorrow morning against the Mariners.”
Athletics meet the Southern Mariners tomorrow morning, fresh off a 15-0 victory over the Baycats.
Intermediate League
Game 1 – Field 3 9:30 AM Sunraysia vs. Twins 9 – 11
Twins outlast Sunraysia in close matchup
Twins have defeated Sunraysia 11-9 to start the tournament on a high note.
Atticus Hurford’s pitching was unbelievable, with eight strikeouts and a run scored off his bat. Edward Morgan and Ben Howard were solid with the bat for Twins, scoring two runs a piece.
Sunraysia showed a true team-effort, with everyone playing their part. Blake Peterson struck out five players in his two innings at the mound. Sunraysia will hope to pick things up in their Sunday morning game against Eastern Athletics.
Game 2 – Field 3 12:30 PM Eastern Athletics vs. Southern Mariners 20 – 4
Athletic explosion as Eastern run rampant over Mariners
On the back of a crazy 12 run third inning, Eastern Athletics have comfortably defeated the Southern Mariners 20-4.
Mariners shared the scoring evenly, with three players scoring three runs, and 11 of 12 scoring at least one. Jackson Powell had two doubles for Eastern, and pitchers Nicholas Booth and Max Saggers combined for seven strikeouts.
Sidney Stillwell finished with two RBI’s for the Mariners in a tough afternoon for the team.
Game 3 Field 3 3:30 PM Twins vs. Eastern Athletics 21 – 19
Twins end first day undefeated after a thriller
Twins have finished day one full of confidence after defeating Eastern Athletics in a high scoring thriller. Runs were easy to come by, with Twins just holding on 21-19.
Miller Wortley was massive for Twins, bringing five players in off his bat. Harry Foreman scored five as well.
Ben Howard had a strong all-around game, scoring five runs off his bat and throwing three strikeouts.
Athletics also had three players finish with three RBI’s. Defence was optional for both sides, with 16+ hits for each team.
Ladder leaders after Day 1 are Twins in Senior League, Eastern Athletics in Junior League and Twins in Intermediate League.
We’ll see everyone tomorrow morning for Day 2!
