Waverley 2 were defeated by Springvale 16
Surprisingly, it was Waverley which scored first in this game, but Springvale which
overpowered the opposition pitching to score a comfortable victory.
In the first inning, Springvale picked out the left-fielder three times, but Cory Everett
beat out an infield throw to record his first hit as a Lion. Waverley’s run in the bottom
half came from two hits with an infield error proving costly.
The game took shape in the second, though, with Springvale scoring the maximum
seven runs, with strong hitting and some poor fielding from Waverley. The real
highlight for Springvale came in the third with Tyler Riddiford’s home-run over the
left-field fence, one of his four hits for the day.
With Anderton in control, only another error and some sharp base-running from
Waverley saw Waverley add another unearned run to their meagre tally. Meanwhile,
Springvale continued to score heavily, a change in pitcher failing to stem the hitting,
and sprinkling plenty of free bases throughout the fourth.
Bailey Firman came to the mound in the fourth, and his four-strike-outs over two
innings handed him the win. He was helped by some impertinent base-running.
Waverley’s third out in the fourth came when the runner, having stolen second and
third was run down as he tried to steal home.
Tyler Riddiford was the stand-out batter, his home run one of his four hits. Cory
Everett welcomed himself to the club with two hits, and Aaron Tanic, Rowan Hall and
Trent Makin also had two hits. Rob Anderton, Sean Linley and Bailey Firman all
contributed to a strong batting performance.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK” “Wherever friendly paths intersect, the whole
world looks like home”. [HERMAN HESSE]
Springvale 9 defeated Chelsea 1
This was a neat game of baseball, dominated by Mark Anderton’s pitching
performance. With an all-Anderton battery, the senior member of that outfit had a
strike-out in every innings, pitched only nine balls in his fifty pitches, and gave up no
earned runs.
Springvale opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, when Brandon Mize led off
with a walk and was advanced by Rowan Hall’s hit. Sean Linley’s sacrifice fly put the
first run over the plate, and Zaid Carlos followed with a strong hit to centre the score
the second.
The game was tight over the middle innings, with Springvale hitting the ball perhaps
too well, and Anderton retiring batters in order, leaving Springvale with a narrow
lead. That lead tightened further in the fourth inning, when, with two down, Chelsea
had back-to-back singles. A short stop error scored one, and only an excellent scoop
at 1 st base from Sean Linley kept Chelsea from tying the game.
But a pitching collapse in the bottom of the fourth secured the win for Springvale.
Despite a pitching change in the middle of the innings, there were three HPBs, three
walks, and two doubles, generating the maximum seven runs with only one out.
No further runs were recorded before rain stopped play.
Sean Linley added a double to his sacrifice fly for three RBIs, and Aaron Tanic also
had three RBIs and a double. Single base hits to Rowan Hall, Zaid Carlos and Tim
Milne rounded out the hitters’ list.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: “Being normal is boring.” [MARILYN MONROE]
Mornington 7 were defeated by Springvale 9
Despite the promised summery weather, it was rather more bleak by the sea at Mornington, with a strong wind and some gusty rain making conditions difficult for baseball. Mornington outhit the Lions, eleven to two, proving that at this level, the teams who have pitchers who can throw strikes will generally win the game.
The game was scoreless over the first two innings, with tight pitching from uber veteran Mark Anderton matched by Mornington’s Sam Foura. Anderton was the first to crack, giving up a double and single for a run in the third. Springvale matched that with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, but Mornington had got their eye in against Anderton and their five hits in the bottom of the inning netted three runs,
although Anderton still managed two strike-outs to limit the damage.
Mornington’s change of pitcher in the fifth proved disastrous, as the new pitcher first muffed a pop-up from the opening batter, and then walked the next three. A sacrifice fly to Tyler Riddiford and a hit to Zaid Carlos saw Springvale take the lead.
Anderton came back to shut out the Pirates in the fifth. Again, the Mornington pitchers failed to hit the strike zone, and six walks and a HPB gave the Lions a comfortable lead which proved important. Bailey Firman took the mound for the first time for Springvale and started nervously with a triple and single putting Mornington one run closer. Once he settled, he looked powerful, with three strike-outs, although
some confusion allowed Mornington to sneak a run on a steal home as pitcher and catcher celebrated one of those Ks.
There were only five hits for the day – with Aaron Tanic recording two, and single hits to Tim Stockdale, Zaid Carlos and winning pitcher Mark Anderton rounding out the total.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: “All are welcome…we belong to this family.” [DESMOND TUTU]