Away to take on the Indians at Mortlock Park for Tyson Arnolds 100th A grade game and the boys got it started early with base knocks to Arnold and Keeping in the first to have runners at the corners and show we are a force to not be taken lightly this year.
The Indians followed suite a put up a couple of runs as we went back to work and had more runners on and scored to show further intent that the GBC boys are fired and ready for battle this year.
A few innings past the Indians got out to a little lead in the 4th and the 5th the GBC come alive and put up a lazy 5 spot to put us with in two runs and leaving the Indians wondering who this team is that never lay down to rest.
The final score was not reflective of the game that was played as mentioned by Ben Wigmore (Indians coach) in their post game presentations, the words were spoken that the Tigers are ready this year, and other teams will need to be ready.
You would expect that when you travel to the Indian ballpark you will need to defend 5 – 7 runs and score at least that to win. We did that!
We had runners on every inning bar 1, three lots of loaded bases, countless hits, 1st to 3rd’s and a real desire to WIN! We never gave in right to the top of the 9th having 2 runners on after getting two out.
Flynn Luders battled once again through 3 innings, Jayden Eldridge delivered strike after strike with an umpire that was questionable through 4 innings and M.Williams to close it out.
Overall for us to take on the Indian veterans in Fidge (out in 4 innings) and Challinor, put up 7 runs, stay aggressive in the box and on base, We are heading in the right direction.
This week we use a bee bee gun on a Cardinal on our park.
We build together lads and take them all week by week.
See you all at in the Tigers Cage!
Another Sunday, another great day for baseball. This week we took on the Indians at Mortlock Park. For the second time in as many weeks, the game was decided by a run. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of this one. Harro got the start for us against a crafty Keogh who would go on to retire our line up in order the first time through. Lenny’s red pen got a workout in the opening frame, as the tribe tacked on 4. They then tailed two more in the second. Harro toiled away through the 5th doing what he could to soak up innings.
To the boy’s credit they fought hard all day, and in the 6th inning our offense was sparked by yet another Connor Hill double. He is yet to stop in at first this season. Thanks to quality appearances on the bump by both Errol Burns and Darcy Gluyas we found ourselves in a position to take the game in the last inning. Darcy came to the plate representing the winning run but not to be this week. However, an impressive effort to fight back. Tighten up that first frame and it is a different story. Still plenty of positives to take into our first home game versus the Cardinals.
A cold blustery summers morning greeted the junior studs as they made their way to Mortlock Oval.
After a quick phone call to Wurf to hurry down with catchers gear and a minutes silence for the great man that was and is Dodo we took the field.
A leadoff single and a couple of errors saw an early 3 run deficit. Not to worry said Abroe starting his second game as lead off I will open the boys account with a single to centre. Archie following the lead smashed a single to left to show we are not going to lie down.
Unfortunately the Indians pitcher settled and despite putting balls in play we couldn’t force a break.
It became a surprising pitcher’s duel over the next couple of innings with neither team making head way.
This would change when our youngest member Squints lead off with a muffed fly to centre did an accidently perfect delay which forced the catcher to throw it into his back allowing him to get to third. Blake Hall deciding who needs a preseason, smashed one up the middle to score the little man. First run and RBI of the year.
Abroe came into relief and kept us in the game. Smelling a come from behind victory he lead of the last with a single Darcy walked and we had the go ahead run at the plate. Unfortunately we just couldn’t get it done going down 3 to 1
It was great to see the guys stick to the mantra set of put the ball in play and despite the shaky first innings the defence stood up all game. The more we all play together will make us understand what it takes and strive for the wins I am sure are there this year.
Stay positive and keep working hard
Our first home game of the year, had a perfect spring day for a ball game. We paid our respects to Dodo in the pre-game and Gamer Eldridge took the pill for the home team. He wasn’t quite as sharp as week one and after escaping the first after giving up a couple of runs his day was done. This prompted us to play catch up baseball for a while. We had some nice early AB’s to threaten, but the Angels hurler was having none of it and served up a few donuts to us in the early innings.
Tristan Stevens took over hurling duties and would close out the rest of the game. His performed pretty well on the hill on short warm up, but his bat was the most impressive part of his game. The clock ticked over the 45 minute mark and we still trailed 2-0, Paddy Gluyas had a great team AB and drew a lead-off walk, Stevens smashed a double to right and a double to the coach in the 9 hole had the game back on even terms. We carried this momentum through this innings with big hits to bench guy L Thommo, Sid Reynolds and Div 4 rookie H McGearey also opening his account. It was now 10-2 in the blink of an eye.
Stevo got back on the mound and with 2 outs and no-one on a good hit, a missed strike 3 call and a chinker later – saw the Angels drive in their 3rd run. The bays guys kept the bats rolling in the next innings and scored 11 in one dig. A triple to hit machine, and professional baby giraffe impersonator, T Stevens a highlight for the 15 people in attendance for the early season fixture. Old timer Kloeds chimed in for a Nadal-esque grand slam and the game was all but done.
A good outing for the back in black bays - early wins are always nice to pick up.
After a comfortable outing in week one for the snakes alive, as expected, week two was a tough battle against the perennially strong Eagles of Lockleys. With rookie not Brendan Fraser unavailable due to being on location in British Colombia filming of “Dudley Do Right #2 – Mountie Bounty”, Van Wilder got the start in centre with Steak Sandwich sliding into rightfield and The Unstoppable Pecs Machine moving into the hot corner.
The Slice took the hill and dispatched the Eagles with no trouble in the first. Bottom one saw the Fendog Millionaire smack a one-out double before The Jouster knocked him in with a sharp single to put us up 1-0. Back to back hits for The Oyster Brothers around a Krajinator hit by pitch saw us go 2-0 up after one. Neither team troubled scorer HSR in the second, but a highlight grab from the sizzling Steak at rightfield had the Kenmax play of the day all but locked up. The visitors piled on some pain with a four-spot in the third to take a 4-2 lead after three. The damage could have been worse but a VW-Borrito-Jina double play ended a tough third for the good guys.
Things went further south as the Eags put on two more in the fourth, but a super important strike-out from relief pitcher Krajgoogoo with 1st and 3rd occupied kept the West Torrens lead at 6-2.
The Jouster took to the hill in relief of the Googoo in the 5th and did a stellar job in shutting down the visitors for the rest of the game.
A hit by pitch to The Slice started things with one out in the 6th for the good guys, and for the second time in the day The Oyster Brothers delivered with a single to Old Oyster followed by a double to Junior Oyster and the Bays were back in it at 6-4.
The bottom of the 7th – last chance hotel as they say in our strange league (let us play nine like real baseball please SABL) - commenced with the good guys trailing by two. VW flied out with a solid piece but Fendog Millionaire reached with a one-out walk to keep us on life support. A pop fly saw us down to our last out, but The Slice wasn’t ready to call this one over, smashing a two-out single to give us a glimmer of hope.
With two out and two on, trailing 6-4 and down to our last out it was up to The Krajinator to keep this one kicking. The big fella stepped into the box, as base runner K-Slice and coach Bean Borrito discussed how super-cool it would be if the great man could middle one and provide a fairy tale finish. No longer had this conversation ended that the wind changed slightly, coming directly from Dixon’s Dugout into the direction of the aforementioned Kraj. The sweet aroma of Coopers Ale hit the Krajinator’s nostrils just as the pitcher was preparing to deliver, and that’s all it took. Spiderman fired down the pitch and just like the 2019 movie of the same name, it ended up FAR from home. Game over for a memorable 7-6 walkoff win.
Congrats to the Tiger Div 1 girls on a Friday night win and all of the Saturday teams for another clean sweep of wins.
With Glen Pycock out diligently watching the movie "Down Periscope", we welcomed back Tim "The SwanDog" Swansson for his first game of the year.
Our pitching and fielding were so-so in this contest, 'twas our batters who glistened in this match. For the second week in a row we started with a 7 spot in the bottom of the first to take control of the match (6 hits in a row to start proceedings). Everyone seemed to bat alright, but from my distant re-collections our best batters with 2 or more hits were David Jucha, Ben "Big A" Alexander, Dan Melia (2x2B) and Wayne "Wagon Builder" Hughes. Jason King, Ben Dixon and The SwanDog also chiming in with quality ABs including RBIs.
We eventually finished 18-3 victors after 5 innings, in a solid team effort on a coolish Saturday 17th October 2020.
My favourite play of the game was from another rookie with "The Wagon Builder" up with two men on in the early innings. Wayne Unladed an offering from the GG pitcher over the fence at straight away left field for a 3-run homer (a nice hit to set up the match early).
Div 7(Red) had our first home game of the year. Up against the unpredictable Dodgers, we found ourselves quickly 0-5 down after half an innings. Over the course of the next few innings, we chipped away at the lead and eventually found our way in front. Helping us to get the lead was the big Scotty Bradey with his first bomb off he season. Some solid-ish pitching and a classic “caught and bowled” by Stix kept the Dodgers at bay. The learning curve continues for the newbies and we rolled out winners by a couple final score 15-12
Glenelg travelled to Playford on Saturday to play the Pirates. The team cruised through the day with patches of great play and individual highlights to be comfortable winners 23-2 after 7 innings of play.
Mitch was back for his first outing of the year cruising through 5 innings with 6 strike outs and no runs conceded. Tony finished off the final two innings, striking out 4, bamboozling both the Playford batters and umpire.
Everyone did well with the bat with Fenwick, Oliver and Sanderson (that’s what the scorebook says) with 4 hits each.
