Junior League
Game 4 – Field 1 9:30AM Eastern Athletics vs. Southern Mariners 13 – 17
A high-scoring affair has left Southern Mariners celebrating a 17-13 win over Eastern Athletics on Sunday morning.
A run was scored in each inning besides the seventh, but the Mariners were the team that piled on the most runs – seven in the second and six in the fifth.
This game was dominated by the long ball as home runs galore were hit. The Mariners with two for six total runs but Athletics were much better with their connection; six homers (two to Tyler Evans) that brought in 13 of their 17 runs.
A spirited comeback from Athletics was on the cards when they scored five in the bottom of the fifth to make it 16-13 and would’ve felt good considering the deficit was low.
The Mariners scored one in the sixth, and after a match where only two of the 11 digs drew in no runs, the final three digs also produced no score, leaving the Mariners with their second win.
James Squire for Eastern Athletics was perfect at the plate, going three for three, and adding each advancement to finish with three runs for the game. However, there were three Mariners players with three runs each (Lachlan Smith, Tom Brookes, Wesley Ka) with Brookes going four of five and four RBIs.
Game 5 – Field 1 12:30PM Geelong Baycats vs. Twins 7 – 8
A strong fightback from Geelong Baycats was inspiring but just not enough as they lost 7-8 to Twins at Field 1 on Sunday afternoon. For the Twins, it was their first win of the weekend.
In a high-scoring first inning, Baycats led 3-2, however the away side didn’t see another run cross the plate for the next four innings.
Down by one and looking for a lead, Twins started their bottom second nicely with Beau Graham awarded a home run off the first pitch of his at bat to tie the scores.
In the bottom of the third, Twins broke away, their lead extended to two thanks to a Spiers sacrifice fly that scored Fitzgerald for his second run of the game. From that too, Bailey Wilson was able to round to third and came home for his second run due to an error.
Baycats remained composed on defense until the fifth where, with a 3-1 count, a three-run home run from Wilson took much control away from Baycats.
Baycats brought the margin back by three, each of those being brought in due to wild pitches.
A shutout in the Twins bottom six made them feel nervous for the inning ahead, and rightly so as Tipping scored as the ball was hit to short stop where the play was made for an out.
Twins were able to get the final out, a fly ball to second base, and walk away with the one-run win.
Game 6 – Field 1 3:00PM Twins vs. Southern Mariners 2 – 19
An 11-run third dig to Southern Mariners all but ensured they would win over Twins and after Tom Brookes homered in three runs in the fourth innings, the final result was a 19-2 mercy.
Mariners got out to a 0-3 lead at the end of the first innings and kept Twins grounded with Otto Mojo striking out seven batters in his three innings pitched, where 10 of the first pitches were strikes.
Mariners pitching stuck well throughout the game, where no Twins dig (within the first three) comprised of more than four batters, the first two three up, three down. Despite their limited hits, Twins had nine quality at bats, a testament to their driven nature, especially late, but still outclassed by Mariners 22.
Only one Mariners player was unable to find their way home, but a masterclass from Lachlan Stevens (three from four) and Thomas Yuile (three from three) with a homer and batting in four runs.
Two home runs came in the Mariners 11-run stand that included a grand slam from Yuile, and the Twins couldn’t find the first out until eight batters down the lineup, six runs already scored.
Harrison Green-Williams from Twins remained on the pitchers plate for 91 pitches, and although he saw four home runs fly over his head, kept his head up and finished out his three complete innings with three strikeouts that had batters looking.
Unfortunately, the result confirms their standings, with Athletics going undefeated in three games, leaving Twins stranded on the bottom without a win.
Intermediate League
Game 4 – Field 2 9:30AM Eastern Athletics vs. Sunraysia 40 – 1
Athletics pour on the runs in dominant win
Eastern Athletics have scored a monumental 40 runs in a huge win over Sunraysia.
Angus Hopkinson and Declan Weichard each hit long bombs and batted in 12 runs between them. Weichard was one hit away from a cycle as he went 4-5 from the plate. Jackson Powell ran rampant around the bases, stealing four of his team’s 12 on his own.
Eastern’s pitching was also dominant, with Fletcher Powell and Chloe Woolard allowing the lone hit and striking out nine Sunraysia players.
Kolby Wakefield provided the lone hit for Sunraysia, as he doubled and brought in a run.
Game 5 – Field 2 12:30PM Twins vs. Southern Mariners 0 – 6 (forfeit)
Due to a forfeit in the game, the score stands at 6-0 in favour of the Mariners.
Game 6 – Field 2 3:00PM Southern Mariners vs. Sunraysia 21 – 6
Mariners overcome hot start to down Sunraysia
Southern Mariners have finished the first two days of tournament play with a 21-6 win over Sunraysia.
Sunraysia got off to a blistering start, scoring all six runs in the first inning. Blake Peterson cracked a two-run homer and Emma Stevens brought in another two.
Mariners then started piling on the runs in the second dig, before an 11-run third inning put the result out of reach.
Mitch Denny had a strong outing, reaching base three out of four times and scoring three runs.
Southern spread the pitching duties wide, with five getting a chance on the mound. Declan Lynch was the pick of the bunch, with two strikeouts and no earned runs.
