From a walk off win last week, to a walk off loss 7 days later. Both on an infield error. If Marty Mcfly had warned us, I would have given my best Michael Caton impersonation. Not such a good feeling when you are on the other side of it. You never like to waste good pitching performances but this one got away from us. Troy surrendered 4 hits through 5, while racking up 7 punch outs.
Unfortunately, East Torrens left their Red Sox in with our whites on Sunday as Lenny’s book ran red.
ET picked up 3 runs. 1 from a double play we couldn’t turn in time in the 2nd, another from an errant throw into Centre in the 5th before finally a 2 out blunder in the 7th to seal our fate. It just wasn’t our day with the gloves, and well have to take better care of the pill going forward if we want to reach our expectations.
Higginbotham to his credit dealt for the Sox, dominating us most of the day with his high fastball. Against a scrappy side like that, our 4 errors loomed large.
Still, plenty of positives to take away. Burns continued his good form with another two innings out of the pen. Our outfielders continued to take hits away, Archie made a great diving catch to end the 3rd. Tom’s RBI double in the 5th and Darcy’s RBI Single in the 6th put us in a position to steal the game but the Red Sox were simply better with the ball on the day.
Finally a sunny bright morning greeted us as we took the field up the hill at East Torrens
Winning the toss and electing to bat Blake lead of with a shot back to the pitcher using his wheels he scared the former GBC hurler into throwing it to the crowd.
A soft liner by Kai up the middle then an stolen base from the little champ allowed VDub to drive in the first run with an RBI ground out that netted us another run when the short stop airmailed first.
We went out into the field and East Torrens quickly got the two runs back with some timely hitting and good baserunning. It looked like it was going to be a long day in the field until Blake decided he had had enough and did his best superman impression laying out fully to snag a line drive that was definitely going to cause trouble.
We didn’t trouble the East Torrens field in our next attempt with the lower half recording three up three down all strike outs
We took the field again and despite East Torrens putting a runner on we held firm
The next inning saw Blake lead off with a single back to the pitcher who in an exact copy of the first threw the ball into the crowd. Kai then executed a perfect ground out to move Blake to third allowing VDub to drive him in with a base hit to centre. The Junior studs take the lead.
Again East Torrens put runners on and again our defensive held strong with Squints making every play at third and the inning ending with VDub showing Blake that even old dudes can fly by snagging a bases loaded line drive up the middle to end the inning.
This inspired the lads as Henry making his season debut hit a double down the left field line Conor then collected his first hit of the season going to right then stealing second. Both lads scoring on a double to right. Blake then moved the runner across to third and after kai walked another run crossed on a first and third running on the catchers throw. The lads now 6 to 2 up.
Dan took over pitching duties and after working out its not bodyline ended the East Torrens threat by getting a hitter to line out to second for a double play and then getting the last guy to line out to a moving forward Conor at third.
Unfortunately that is where all are defensive luck would run out despite Dan starting the last and then handing the ball to VDub we just couldn’t hold the East Torrens bats and they finally broke through. The score not really showing how well we played going down 11 to 6
It was a great team game by all the execution in the box was awesome to see, guys moving runners across and knowing their roles was a delight to see. The defence all game was top notch Conor looked at home at third and Kai played second right and then third showing versatility.
We keep playing like this and the wins are just around the corner.
We played host to one of last year’s finalist and it ended up being a well fought game, with some quality plays from both sides.
With a few guys not in the mix we flipped the team around a little, Stevens took the pill for his first start of the season. On the back of a misplayed grounder and a flare job hit & run the Dodgers had a couple on 0 outs to start proceedings. Stevo escaped this giving up 1 run, and he was outstanding the remainder of the game as well.
The Grovers hurler sent us back with 2 early donuts before the coach had a lead-off single in the 3rd followed by a Deeble ground rule double and an Abroe productive out had us on the board. Lachy Mags hit a solo johnson to get us another run. Stevens took one for the team with loaded bases to plate another. We gave the ball to new Close Guy D Zed to record the final 3 outs, which he got through with minimal fuss.
A pretty solid win, we have a few things to improve on and just couldn’t time our big hits, it felt like we probably left 10 or so runners on base – when we weren’t busy grounding into innings ending double plays. We are a month into the season and have some early wins up our sleeve, with some big challenges ahead
Our first appearance for the season on the main diamond coincided with the return of Mister Freeze, refreshed from a family holiday and a Comic Con roadshow where he dutifully played the role of Ned Flanders.
Custilla Slice rolled through the first, working around a single and adding a punch out to start the ball rolling. The Tigs went quietly in the first as G-Payne matched The Slice the keep the score at donuts. Mmmmmmm…..donuts.
A clean second was produced by The Slice, setting things up for the good guys to take the lead. A one out single to (in a Donald Trump voice) KA-JINA was followed up with a single from Oysters Senior. Oysters Junior reached on error leaving the sacks juiced for VW Brewing Co, who (Kenny) lofted one to left for a sac fly to put the Tiges up 1-0 after two.
The K-Slice negotiated the third with ease and a bit of help from the Jouster at right, patrolling the friendly confines like a panther, looking as cool as the other side of the pillow as he tracked the Brett pill to end the inning.
A Flanders hit by pitch started the party in the bottom three, followed by a cheeky single to the Fenomenon. The Jouster walked to load up the sacks again, this time for Custilla Slice who singled up to left, scoring two. A one out walk to Oysters Senior once again loaded the sacks for Oysters Junior who knocked one up the guts, extending the lead to 5-0. Not to be outdone, The Brewing Co smashed a double before 55 Shades of Dan singled in two more which had the umpire calling for a change and HSR calling for a pencil sharpener as the maxibon seven runs had been added.
The trolley Dodgers knocked in one to make it an 8-1 game, which remained the scoreline through five. The visitors mounted a comeback against the Krajinator in the top of the 6th, hitting carbon copy fly ball singles to Ned Flanders over, and over, and over again, reducing the deficit to 8-4 before a Vdub-Borrito-Slice double play ended the deja-vu single parade to the delight of the small but appreciative GBC “crowd”.
Ned Flanders finished the day on a high with a crispy double before scoring on a Sizzling Steak ground ball, and all that was left to do was for JoJo KA-JINA to produce the goods on the hill and finish this one up at 9-4 good guys.
A massive contest at Norman Bates Reserve is on tap against the undefeated Utah Saints (U-U-U-Utah Saints) in round five.
Against an understrength Port team your Division 6 tigers came away from EP Nazar Reserve with a 9-1 victory. Against a quality Port Adelaide pitcher, we consistently put the ball in play throughout the match, providing the Magpies with Mo Runs, Mo Problems.
On the "Spookiest day of the year" October 31st on a cool, windy (going in from centrefield) early afternoon game it was again our batting depth that was our biggest advantage.
Glen "P-Dog" Pycock, Tim "S-Dog" Swansson and Vanya "V-Dog" Golusin all combined for 10 hits. Al Laukirbe and Jason King also came through with timely RBI hits each.
Back-to-back-to-back doubles by the "S-Dog", Leon Eldridge and the "V-Dog" making the score 5-1 was probably my favourite play(s) of the game.
Other little titbits (or is it tidbits?) include Bradley Ayles suiting up for his first game of the year (after scoring the previous weeks) and getting hit in his 2nd at bat. Wayne Hughes coming in for his first pitch of the year without any issues. Ben Alexander getting a roll at 2nd base (Making a play without any difficulty) and getting a hit by pitch on his "keys bruised" buttock. The "P-Dog" also fielded a ball at 2nd base without fumbling and threw out the batter at first which was nice.
Div 7R travelled down to the wharfs to play the guernsey clash game.
With half the team seeing their first legitimate curveball ever, the crazy wizardry was a bit bamboozling.
Stix was great on the mound (for him) and held them to 1 run for hours but with our bats not rocking up, we didn’t put up too much of a fight.
With the final score 0-4, we have saved our hits for next week. Look out.
The Glenelg Tigers played the Dodgers from Golden Grove at home on the weekend and cruised through the game to continue the great start to the season.
Mitch started things on the mound for us and without too much trouble we were into bat with one run to get. We took the maximum seven off 6 hits to Mundy (2), Beyer (2), Dendy, Luders(double) and Mitchell.
The game continued in this fashion until the Dodgers called time on the game conceding 16-4.
Fielding was sharp, pitching was outstanding and it was good to see hitting continue as it has for the team to date.
Mundy, Beyer and Luders finished with 3 hits each on the day. Mitch pitched the 5 innings played with great support from the field.
