Away we went to the home of the Indians on Sunday looking for two in a row.
With Oz going up to higher duties due double headers in a grade we changed are battery completely.
Enter Flynn for his first div 2 start of the year and Adam Wurfel for his first start Behind the dish.
After working out what gates needed to be kept shut and a realization a cone over a hole could easily be fixed with dirt Flynn got underway.
Knowing their ground perfectly the lead off chopped one perfectly over Flynn’s head for a hit up the middle, eventually scoring on a couple of ground outs and a wild pitch.
That is all they would score as Flynn threw a controlled game through 4 innings only getting himself in trouble in the third with some cheap hits and a walk having bases loaded none out. Showing real maturity he bore down getting the next three Indians out without allowing a run.
We could not muster anything in the first despite hits to coach zed and Elliot. That would change in the second with patient at bats from Hayden and Wurfel and a hit to Witty having the bases loaded one out. A wild pitch allowed Hayden to score an excellent at bat to Sonny and Jacob who both walked bringing in another run. Coach zed followed with another walk plating another run a pass ball and sac fly to Elliot had us finish the inning 5 to 1 up.
Despite a leadoff double to Mags we could not keep the momentum going in the next inning not scoring any. That was quickly forgotten as back to back walks to Jacob and zed another hit to Elliot and Joe finding the barrel and shooting one to left for a double and then scoring on a wild pitch saw us score another 4. We tacked another 2 late through another hit to Joe going into the last with a comfortable 11 to 1 lead.
Will came on to relief Flynn and was dominate in his first inning. He went out for his second inning of work with what the coaches later found out was a side strain. Caring this injury the lad just could not find the zone and when he did he had nothing left. Battling through to get two outs the ball was handed to Hayden to end the small Indian uprising Bays going on to win 11 – 7
Real good signs in the batter’s box with everyone still taking walks and hit by pitches when needed and not trying to overdo it. This doesn’t make for enjoyable baseball at times but is a vital lesson in how to stay in games when they are meandering to a close.
On the injury front Rion should be back in a week or so after rolling his ankle playing volleyball and fingers crossed Wills is only a minor strain as he has looked real good and has improved every week
Onwards and upwards
Coach Millhouse took over the reins of the Division 3 team against Goodwood at Goodwood and after one quick look at Bender’s proposed lineup thought – this is rubbish and shuffled the decks. The grumpy bugger is a baseball savant however and every move he made paid off and then some.
Promoting Darcy Gluyas to the two hole to hit after Kyle Alexander, with Will Burke providing protection gave us the youngest starting top of the order (possibly) in the entire history of Division 3 at the GBC. These young stars proceeded to get on base 10 times, and score 8 of our 14 runs, mixing in a lazy 4 stolen bases before we shut down the running game after taking a commanding lead. Setting the table like that is one way to reward the coach’s faith lads – great effort.
When Will Burke wasn’t driving runners in himself (3 RBI), Ben Dixon turned back the clock going 3-5 whilst reaching base all 5 times and driving in 4, Adam Wurfel went 2-5 with two RBI whilst putting good swings and competitive at bats up all day. Young Matt Laverty is finding his feet and confidence with 2 singles and 2 runs scored whilst playing a flawless second base.
Defensively Kyle Alexander hoovered up anything that went his way at third base allowing the fossil on the hill to keep challenging the Goodwood bats throughout the game. Darcy Gluyas behind the dish took a big leap forward calling a great sequence of pitches to keep the Indians hitters off balance – great work Darcy.
Three rounds in and the focus on quality / competitive at bats is paying off as we rattled off 16 hits, 2 BBs & 5 HBPs. Fantastic work lads – another early start next week at Kensington as the double header rounds continue before we can go back to sleeping in before our 10am starts…
Massive thanks to Renae Jones for stepping up and covering the scoring duties this week – we are still looking for volunteers for this vital role (even if it’s a rotating roster of legendary scorers) so please put your hand up if you can assist in anyway.
The Big Dawgs back with a bang #bostonstrong
With game 3 of the World Series well underway we rolled out to the half newly renovated Weigall Oval to face the Angels of Adelaide. After a slightly stressful pregame warmup with the Sox game playing in the coaches pocket, the armoured blue called play ball. With our regular leadoff back from filming Master Chef Barossa Edition, Big D Deeble turned a triple into a double and the bays had a runner on 2nd and no outs, a sac fly from Bender Handy had us 1-0 up after 3 hitters.
Gamer Eldridge took the pill to start the home team off and negotiated his way around a bloop single to right to K the side and get the visitors back in the batters box. Kloeds got things started with our second lead-off double in as many innings and a walk and a base knock up the middle to the coach plated our 2nd run. The big hit of the inning came from HardCore Williams with a bases loaded double to the fence scoring a couple, and all the sudden it was 5-0 after two.
The Big Unit continued to roll through the first 3 innings, facing 1 over the minimum and was looking sharp. He would finish up throwing a 6 inning CG, giving up a couple of runs from balls that probably should have been outs, but Adelaide is a funny field sometimes.
We scored 6 in the top half of the 3rd after back to back doubles from Quals and Kloeds, an IF single, a few walks and a base hit to right. However we only tacked on 1 extra run over the next few innings, leaving a few runners on base, which gives us something to improve on from an otherwise pretty good W.
After the customary home plate handshakes we got word that game 3 was heading into its 7th hour of play, so we lit up the Halo and retired to the front of the clubhouse to watch the final few innings from LA, just a few months after Sanga Dixon had sampled a Dodger dog or two in the Chavez Ravine. And Peter Dixon.
The Snakes Alives rolled in to Weigall Oval to commence a seven week road trip that will show us all this great state has to offer. A quick glance at the first stage of the City Nine redevelopment revealed some pretty blue tennis courts, a kick ass playground for the kiddies and a new car park just kilometres from the diamond. The anticipation of a diamond that would surely rival At & T Park or Camden Yards was quickly dispelled as we made our way across the trotting precinct to the same old goat track diamond as last season.
Mr. Freeze started the good guys off with a base hit in the first while the Cave Darter reached via a walk, but there was nothing doing as a donut was registered in the Ausport Official scorebook. With crime-fighting duo Hollywood & The Slice unavailable for duty, coach Borrito flipped the pill to Biscuits Wilson for piffing duties. Just one City Nine hitter reached in the first as Wilbur whiffed a trio to keep the score at 0-0. A V-Dub single was all the offense in the 2nd for the good guys while the Angels managed three consecutive hits to start their half. Killer cut down a runner for the first out before Wilbur whiffed a couple more to end the threat.
This one remained scoreless through three before the Cave dweller knocked a single to start the 4th. The Fenomenon went all Mookie on us, laying down a bunt that saw two on with none out, before V-Dub went oppo to get the Tiges on the board with a couple. Old Borrito then knocked a single up the guts to extend the lead to three before the inning came to a close. The City Nine hit back with two of its own to trail by just one at 2-3 after four.
Freezer smashed a few Tim Tams then knocked a sweet triple treat to start the 5th before the Krajinator knocked him in. The Cave Darter smashed one to the track but for the second time in a few digs, the City Nine centrefielder ran the pill down like Chuck E. Carr in his Florida Marlins hey day. Steak scored another in the 6th and the scoreboard showed good guys 5, City Nine 3 going into the bottom of the last.
Things went more sour than atomic warhead candy in the last, as a trio of batters were hit around a single and two sac flies to see us get walked off in less than enjoyable fashion.
The loss meant the “A” would not be lit and there would be no joy in Mudville this week. Now back in the pack, the Snakes Alives have the tough task of taking on the top team at Dutch Croquette City next week. Bring it on.
This week we headed South to face the Hawks at Southern Districts
Inning 1 started with us getting 2 guys on through walks before Addison from the Hawks started to dial in and took the next 3 batters in succession. The Hawks Barbier was the first and only batter to face Bradey getting out on a K2-3 before Bradey retired injured. Potter took the hill giving up one hit but redeeming himself with a stellar pick off at first. (GBC 0 – Hawks 0)
Inning 2 was a shocker with us on using 4 batters before we were fielding again. Potter attacked the Hawks having them all out after 4 batters. (GBC 0 – Hawks 0)
Inning 3 we lit up scoring 6 runs through sloppy fielding and hits to Munday, Oliver, Major and Laukirbe. Major to the hill for us to face the Hawks in the third. A shaky start saw the hawks get on with a single, before Major gave Shaw some fielding training seeing them combine to get 3 outs all 4-3. (GBC 6 – Hawks 1)
Inning 4 we came out firing again with hits to Munday, Oliver and Shaw. The Hawks finally switched their gloves on getting us out but not before we scored 3, The Hawks got use to the pace of Major grabbing two hits and two runs before falling flat to be all out. (GBC 9 – Hawks 3)
Inning 5 saw the Hawks use two new pitchers to try and shut us down……but it didn’t work. Munday, Major, Laukirbe, Capuano and Burton all getting hits and walks to Swansson and Oliver saw us score another 5 runs. The Hawks last inning fight back was short lived. The first two batters both getting out on ground outs before the next reaching first on a walk. Addison for the Hawks managed a single and looked to be turning their luck around, but an over eager Hawk got caught and run down 7-5-2 to finish the inning and game, (GBC 14 – Hawks 3)
Hits –Munday (3). Oliver, Major, Laukirbe (2). Burton, Shaw, Capuano (1)
On a nice Saturday morning at Anderson Avenue, the previously undefeated Tigers welcomed the Angels to Anderson Avenue for some Division 6 baseball.
An near capacity crowd saw a fairly tight tussle early with the Angels bat coming out swinging against the Glenelg pitcher, clearly out hitting the home side with multiple hits (seven) in the first three innings.
After 3 innings the score was 2-2. Again our fielding was on song, which goes to show that "catches win matches". The opposition make a few untimely errors (untimely on their behalf) which would end up being the difference. With the home team (Tigers) five runs up going into the bottom of the last, Adelaide got a few back, but fell one run short on the back of a sharp come-backer to Marty L to complete the one run victory.
The best hitters (of which I was nowhere near to) were Gary Mullighan, Paul Luders, Kristian Mundy and Marty Leaker all with well-timed RBI hits. Both Pitchers (Sam Dixon/Marty Leaker) pitched OK but found the centre of the plate too often
We welcome new player Shiro to the bay and all the usual fellas that help top up the Div 7 team out.
We started slowly with the bats and solid in the field with outstanding catches by Timmy it keep us in touch and lovely pitching by our new recruit. Caught by Rookie catcher Blake but it was time to get the bats talking witch we did evening the score at the bottom off the 4th 11 Runs all.
Our starting pitcher began to tire and a change had to be made. Potsy came in to close out the game. Unfortunately Adelaide bats where hot and they put on some runs. We had the chance to respond but it wasn’t our day, over all much better performance and we look forward to new week.Bring it on!
