In what loomed as a danger game for us, the nightmare became reality as we went down to H&G 3-2.
A H&G outfit recently eliminated from finals contention came at us hard throwing their import Lefty Devon Barker. Devon was dominant through 7 1/3 innings allowing just the 1 run. We had plenty of chances but unfortunately could not get that clutch 2-out hit to increase the scoreboard pressure.
Wes Roemer made his first start of the season and was dominant throwing 5 innings of shutout baseball allowing only 2 hits whilst not allowing a runner past second.
Wes was relieved by Hayden McGearey who threw 2 scoreless innings before runnings into a bit of trouble in the eight.
Holding a 1 run lead H&G were able to plate 3 runs in the eigth inning as they came up with the clutch 2-out hits that we were unable to manage throughout the game.
We scraped a run back in the ninth inning but unfortunately this is as close as we would get.
We have a bye this Tuesday and will rest up for what is turning out to be a massive double header vs 1st place West Torrens at home Sunday 19th of February.
Sunday saw us take on the Rams who we were keen to beat convincingly. We started strong as we piled on 5 runs in the first two frames, through aggressive base running and base knocks, the big one coming from Arnold with a bases clearing double. We scored another 7 through the fourth and fifth, driven mainly by errors, wild throws and wild pitches.
In the field we sent Hill to the mound for his first start of the year and he didn’t disappoint. In his four innings of work he allowed only the one base hit and only 4 runners on, giving us every chance to get the job done offensively. J. Eldridge took over pitching duties in the fifth and was dominant across 3 innings, dismissing 9 of 11 hitters. The work down on the bump and impressive glove work and quick hands from Ross, some done while sitting, meant we only gave up the one run.
Thanks to the efforts in the box and on the field we were able to get some game time to all 8 bench guys (except Burns….the lead not quite big enough to squeeze him in…sorry Burns).
Great team win, everyone contributing something, exactly what we need heading into the last three games of the minor round against significantly tougher opposition
The Big Dawg lets another dog have its day.
Making the trip down to West Lakes we knew that a great challenge awaited. We got a runner in scoring position in the first, but stranded him there. I tossed the ball to Errol Burns to take the hill for us and he was outstanding against one of the strongest line-ups you will see anywhere in div 3.
The Big Dawg Deeble got on base with a leadoff walk, followed up by a Marshy double and sac fly from Thommo and we took a 1-0 lead. Kloeds drove in another run with a long single off the fence. Our offence went to sleep after this and we only got 2 hits in the next 4 innings, which certainly isn’t going to get it done.
That was counter balanced by strong defence and a great performance on the hill. Errol threw 4 scoreless innings, before the Henley bats got a few hits and scored 3 runs of their own in the 5th. Tristan Stevens came out of the pen and backed Burns good work up with 2 shutout innings, to preserve probably the fairest all round result on the day with a 3-3 draw. It wasn’t without tension though, with the winning run on 3rd seeing Stevo strike out the final 2 hitters.
This was a great preparation for finals, nothing gets given to you, so we need to keep pushing to get better every week starting now.
After a less than stellar couple of weeks, the Zooterless Al Gores took on the Rams at the home of the John Loy scoreboard. Needing a win to keep our top-two hopes alive, the boys loaded the bases with two-out in the first but once again failed to register any coloured circles for fill-in scorer Lenny the legend.
Kymbo Slice took the pill and was in a bit of strife early, giving up just the one run. Things could have been a lot worse as the third out was made by a Kinsler-like diving BA at second base (this is not a misprint) who piffed an industrial throw off his ample butt that the Krajinator brilliantly scooped for a big out.
After a couple of tough digs the Bays finally got to Nick Rivers with consecutive hits to Freezer, the Fenomenon, the Krajinator, Killer and Kymbo Slice, with V-Dub chipping in for a double that blew up the John Loy scoreboard for a 6-1 lead.
To the Rams credit they fought back with a few runs to keep things interesting but the tiger bats would not be denied. Steak and BA joined the hit party while the fired up crowd was denied the treat of a Krajina-Alexander-Thompson double play as Internet that flies said “no” when everyone else in attendance said “yes”.
With Kymbo Slice running on fumes the big fella got the final out with the scores showing that the good guys had managed a “W”, two field goals being the difference in a 13-7 win. While our season has kind of mirrored the TV series “Heroes” – really good at the start but a bit crap in the last couple of series – we are hopefully getting back to our “Breaking Bad” best as we head into the last couple of rounds before every game is last man standing. Bring it on.
For the second week in a row Jackson Pallot took the start and got the win. Again he was dealing with a frustrating strike zone but he took it in his stride and got the job done. Matt Holmes was solid in relief holding off the Port Adelaide team who looked like they had ideas of making a comeback before our offense shut the door at the top of the 7th.
Bats were on fire with everyone collecting hits or getting on base. Highlights were Jono 4-5, Wilbur 2-4 with a triple and a double. This win puts us into 3rd spot on the ladder, and over the next 2 weeks we play the teams directly above and below us on the ladder (2nd and 4th) - so an important couple of weeks that will decide how the finals will play out.
Foletti running a bit late this week.
Leon Pitched and again very good ,both him and Kristen quickly worked out the opposition hitters and got the upper hand. He threw many strike outs locating nearly every pitch, his presents is really helping our season
Defensively good only making a few mistakes Paul luders played first base well and Julian fielded everything at second Kristen caught very well .
We managed to score enough to win, the hits where scattered around evenly no real stand outs there
Big game this week at home against ET at 3pm. be a good game to win, If we can get a win this will give us confidence going into the finals.
This week we took on the Rangers in the only GBC senior game at Glenelg on Saturday.
With our team sitting one game plus a healthy percentage on top of the Div 7 ladder another strong performance was essential to give ourselves the opportunity to play some finals at Glenelg.
Assistant coach Dave Mitchell was keen to get the ball in his hand early, but unselfishly opted for the DH to share the load! This decision was duly accepted by A Gluyas.
Besides hitting the lead off batter with the first pitch of the game, and this runner becoming the only Rangers run scored for the match, Mitchell put in another strong pitching performance over four innings - striking out six hitters and giving up just three hits.
Peter Fenwick came on to pitch the last two innings and, whilst not as accurate as he would like to have been, putting five runners on through hit by pitch ball (2) or base on balls (3), Fenwick managed to keep the Rangers scoreless - striking out four hitters along the way.
With the bat we scored in five of six innings - posting scores of 2, 7, 1, 3, 0 & 2.
The strike zone was quickly widened by Umpire Jamieson early in the day, as we took the game away from the Rangers.
All batters got at least one hit each in a consistent team performance, with hits to Beyer & A Gluyas (3 each), D Gluyas & McIntosh (2 each) and Ceglar, Fenwick, Pick, Hayward & Finlay (1 each).
“We’re in the 6”
With our ‘regular’ pitcher Pottsy earning a demotion to Div 6 due to short numbers, we were always going to struggle in the pitching stocks, as well as trying to field 9 players. A late call up to an old GBC stager gave us the bare 9 and we escaped the automatic out.
HP started but had not thrown or trained for a few weeks... Pitching 2 innings, walking 6, striking out 2, and giving up 4 runs but only 2 of those earned. Then the coach hears this little squeak from the Shortstop “ I’m ready coach, put me in...” Visions of Under 10 coaching came rushing back only to see Luke Bramley promising to get us out of our pitching jam...
Luke pitched an inning for 4 walks, 1 strike out, 2 HPB’s and 3 runs (2 earned). It was time to stem the flow and the coach brought himself in to close with BP-paced slop. A 9-pitch inning gave us a fly out, K2, and ground out and we were on the way home from the Grove with the ‘W’.
Saved again by our bats and again off to a slow start, we were 4-2 down after 2 and it looked like our finals hopes were to be dashed... until the next 2 innings produced 7-run mercy innings and we finished with a bang..!!
Everyone scored again this week and the base running again was our let-down, as well as leaving 9 runners on base. Thanks to Matt Laverty for the late call-up to ensure we had enough on the park to play.
Runs: 4 – Luke Bramley; 3 – Hiphoppapotamus; 2 – HP, Wilbur, Stix; 1 – Lavo, Tom, Blake, Rhino (sweet little hit over the infield to give him enough time to ‘run’ to 1B)
This week sees the Div 7 Showdown and we will need some reciprocal friendliness from Parko’s Boys to ensure we finish the minor round with 2 from 2 wins to stay in the top 6. Both teams equal with us on points have to face East Torrens in the next 2 weeks..
