2019 Senior League State Championships: DAY 2 RECAPS - Continued

8 Apr 2019 by Rachael Bouley

Game 8 – Field 3 12:30PM Geelong Baycats vs. Eastern Athletics 7 – 8

Eastern Athletics took their game in dramatic fashion, thanks to a walk-off single at the end of the game to topple Geelong Baycats. The game was tied at seven with the Athletics batting in the bottom of the 7th when Jack Romanin singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run.

The Athletics were stronger at the plate, collecting 12 hits compared to the Baycats’ four, but a lack of huge hits didn’t keep Geelong out of the game. It was a tight game the whole way through, thanks to impressive performances on both sides.

A scoreless first inning set the tone of the game, but it wasn’t long before a two-run double from Ryan Othen got the scoring stated and put the game in favour of the Athletics in the 2nd inning. The Baycats put up two runs in the top of the 3rd to stay right in the game, although the Athletics responded with another run to extend their lead by two runs. An additional run in the 4th gave the Athletics a decent advantage, but the game was about to heat up.

Geelong scored two runs in the top of the 5th on a double from Hayden Peoples and a groundout from Brody Stokoe, although the Athletics soon answered with two of their own. James Richardson singled on a 1-2 count to bring home another run, followed by an RBI single from Cody Caulfield.

A scoreless 6th inning preceded the intense 7th inning was where everything came down to the wire. In the top frame, Geelong battled hard, putting three runs on the board to tie it up. After blowing their lead, the Athletics buckled down and loaded the bases, giving Romanin the chance to change the game for good. He laid down a bunt to second base and made it safely to first base, scoring the walk-off run and winning the game for the Eastern Athletics (7-8).

Angus Stals led things off on the pitcher’s mound for the Athletics, throwing four and a third innings. He gave up four runs on three hits along with three strikeouts.

H. Peoples started the game for the Baycats, covering one and two-thirds innings with one hit, two runs and a strikeout. Jordan Baumann, Adam Jirik and Hudson Carter all appeared in relief.

Romanin (3-for-4) and Othen joined Ethan Scalzo with multiple hits for the Athletics, while Peoples had two hits in four at bats to lead the Baycats.

Game 9 – Field 4 12:30PM Southern Mariners vs. Sunraysia 15 – 1

This game was close in the beginning, before the Southern Mariners worked their way to a big margin, cruising to a 15-1 victory. Sunraysia fell behind early and simply couldn’t get back into the game. Three runs on three walks from Balin O’Callaghan, Xander Gunn and Elliot Andersen to start the game boosted the Mariners’ confidence, and although they gave up a sole run in the bottom of the 1st, they added to their lead in every other innings while keeping Sunraysia from rounding the bases.

Three runs in the 2nd and another five in the 3rd made it difficult for Sunraysia to bounce back. The Mariners added three more in the 4th before the 5th inning saw the Mariners take the mercy rule win.

Throughout the course of the game, Sunraysia struggled to contain the high-powered Mariners’ ofense, led by timely hits by Joshua Tribe, Tahj Rousell and O’Callaghan.

Felix Brunner pitched for the Mariners, allowing just one run on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Jack Barrot took the hill for Sunraysia, covering two-thirds of an inning with one hit and three runs allowed along with a strikeout. Jackson Malycha and Ronan Scott entered the game in relief.

Despite the loss, Sunraysia had four players with hits on the day, including Lindsay Barbary, Coby Mitchell, Raiden Wakefield and Ronan Scott. On the sure-handed Mariners side, which didn’t commit a single error on the day, Blake Holding, Angelo Reale-Rontos Gunn, Rousell and Tribe all had multiple hits. In the field, Gunn had the most plays with four.

Game 10 – Field 4 3:00PM Twins vs. Geelong Baycats 15 – 10

The delay of start time by just over an hour put this game in jeopardy of finishing early due to light. The Twins managed through a push by Geelong in the 5th inning, and despite coughing up six runs they were able to pull away with the win. William More, Jordan Baumann, Adam Jirik, James Lappin and Cooper Rickard all drove in runs during Geelong’s big inning.

Both offenses were strong at the plate as Twins collected five hits and Geelong Baycats had nine in the high-scoring affair. The Baycats jumped on the board in the first inning when Rickard singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run as they came out fighting for a win to redeem themselves from their last game, when they lost 7-8 to Eastern Athletics. They added another in the top of the 4th.

Twins pulled away for good with nine runs in the 2nd inning, starting with walks from Nathan Smith and Connor Shibeci before Jaycob Pascuzzi smashed a two-run triple. An error, bases-loaded walk, wild pitch and single from Zachary Gorman made a big impact for the Twins. It was a 14-3 game, going into the 4th.
Harry Garret started for the Twins, throwing four innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out six and walking one.

Hudson Carter started for Geelong, allowing zero hits and two runs over one inning. Ash and Sebastian Dew entered the game in relief, throwing two innings and one inning respectively. Gorman went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Twins in hits, while Rickard and Baumann both managed multiple hits for Geelong Baycats.

Walks proved to be Geelong’s downfall, with pitchers giving up 13 walks in the game. The entire game truly was a battle between walks and hits.