Match Reports
Seniors Round 20 Finals
9 March 2008
FIRSTS 3 lost to Bonbeach 5
After compiling a wonderful 10 game winning streak the Tigers season ended with a disappointing 5 to 3 preliminary final loss the Bonbeach. There is little doubt that going out in the prelim is the worst possible way to end a season, missing both an opportunity to play off for a pennant and the automatic promotion to Divn 1 that a grand final appearance carries with it.
Losing itself is not necessarily ever the end of the world. If you play at your best and the opposition simply plays better than you then there is no disgrace in losing – honourable defeats I think is the oft coined phrase. But for us we have to live with the fact that we lost whilst being nowhere near our best – and that has to hurt. If it doesn’t then give the game away.
Going into the game we knew it would be hard fought as our 3 previous encounters had all been one run, and might I say high quality, games.
Andrew Jones got the start and did fine job in the 5 1/3 innings he worked, giving up 3 runs on 5 scattered hits and picking up 9 K’s to keep us in the game.
Unfortunately we could not give Andrew enough run support picking up all 3 of our runs in the 6th on back to back one out hits to Nick and Hoppy followed by a triple to Pete. Adam then delivered an infield out to tie the game at 3 apiece.
However in their half of the 6th the Bluejays tacked on the deciding 2 runs after Adrian relived Andrew and just had one of those days where he could not buy a strike. Johnno took over and finished the 6th and also worked scoreless 7th and 8th innings.
We got the slightest of sniffs in the 9th when with 2 out Kimbo walked and Boo singled but it was too little, too late.
The reality was we simply did not score enough runs to win the game – we out hit them 7 to 6 but they managed a couple of 2 out hits with runners in scoreing position where we simply struggled to get runners on.
I thank you all for the efforts you put in throughout the season and the determination you showed when things really were pretty grim at the half way mark. I look forward to next season with an even greater resolve to go one better – so should all of you.
Upwey 000 003 000 3 runs 7 hits 0 errors
Bonbeach 200 012 00X 5 runs 6 hits 0 errors
Hits : Kimberley, Unland N 2; Hopcraft, Schroeders, Simmons 1
RBI’s : Schroeders 2, Helleren 1
Pitching : Jones 5.1 IP 3 runs 3 Eruns 5 hits 9 K’s 2BB
Rice A 0.1 IP 2 runs 2 Eruns 0 hits 0K’s 4 BB
Johnstone 2.1 IP 0 runs 0 Eruns 1 hits 0K’s 0 BB
SECONDS 11 def Fitzroy 9 to win the Premiership
Congratulations to all the boys. Well done. A fantastic result.
- Back row - Leigh Bertrand, Lucas Unland, Mitch Ayres, Sean Meldrum, Anthony Bons, David Hair, Trent Chivers, Jonathon Rogers
- Front row - Luke Everitt, Justin Swanton, Kieran Lewis, Andrew Stork, Steve Williams
THIRDS 11 lost to Mulgrave 12
Shady spots among the trees on the third base line at Mulgrave were very popular for the large band of Tigers fans as we took on Mulgrave in the grand final. A couple of mums had to juggle between the Mulgrave side and the Tiger side as the Yule and Williams families were going to be winners and losers no matter what happened.
Top 1 and we are up to bat in the hot and dusty conditions. Wilko could not get on, Sean gets a walk, Ricey gets a hit to centre field, Scott gets walked and Chris gets on via a muffed fly at left field that scores Sean. Ricey scores on a passed ball and then Ashie hits one over short stop and scores Scott. We bat all the way down to Andy at 9 but go side away with 3 runs on the board but leave 3 runners on base. Bottom 1 and 3 up 3 down for Mulgrave with Ricey pitching to Jordie, Chris at first, Ashie at second, Sean at third, Andy at short stop and Wilko, Scott and Yuley in the outfield. Top 2 and back to the top of the order. Although we had 6 batters go up to bat we did not score any runs and again left 3 runners on base. Bottom 2 and again 3 up 3 down for Mulgrave.
Top 3 and Mulgrave change their pitcher but not much change in the game as this time we have 5 batters go up but again no runs scored as we leave 3 runners on. Bottom 3 and Ricey again does the job and gets 3 up, 3 down with Mulgrave being unable to get any runners on base. Defensively our fielding has been fantastic with some notable outs being Wilko good running catch at left field, Ashie diving to take a great catch at second and Sean somehow fielding a really hard line drive at third and getting the runner out at first.
Top 4 and Ricey leads off with a double to centre field, Scott advances Ricey but goes out, Chris scores Ricey with a hit to right field and then Jordie hits a single to right field that pushes Chris to third base. Wozza, now in for Ashie, hits a sacrifice fly to left field that scores Chris and Yuley gets on via a wild throw that scores Jordie. We then go side away after scoring 3 but leave 2 runners on base. Bottom 4 and Mulgrave go 2 up 2 down as Wilko and Scott take catches in the outfield. The next batters gets on via a hit to right field and Mulgrave then put some hits together and score 2 runs before we get the third out. Tigers 6, Mulgrave 2 as we go into the 5th.
Top 5 and Ricey gets another double this time to right field. He is then scored on a sac fly by Scott as Mulgrave are throwing the ball around and not paying attention to Ricey the runner who advanced to third and then got home. No more runs as we go side away and come out for the very memorable bottom of the fifth. Memorable for several reasons almost all of them being errors. We had 4 errors for the dig and the problems with errors was brought home when they also put one over the fence. They scored 9 runs with 8 being unearned, bloody errors. Ouch, that hurts big time as Mulgrave now have a 4 run lead.
Top 6 and the Tigers are certainly not down and out and came out all fired up to get the game back. Jordie gets a single to left field, Wozza gets on via an error, Yuley gets a single to left field, then Andy gets on first via a fielder’s choice as Jordie is forced out at home. Wilko comes up and hits a three base huge hit to centre field that scores 3 runs. Sean is next up and to keep the momentum going and, for the first time in years, he goes after the first pitch and hits it to left field and scores Wilko straight away. Scores are now level and the tiger fans are up and cheering but we go side away before we get any more runs. Bottom 6 and the Mulgrave first baseman puts one over the fence at left field to get a go ahead run before we shut them down.
Top 7 and we need a run as Chris is first batter up and gets a hit to centre field. However, the next 4 batters are unable to get Chris home as we go side away and the Mulgrave crowd start to celebrate their premiership win 12 to 11. A look at the book shows that almost everybody scored a run, Ricey scored three, and got a hit, but we left 13 runners on base. We had 14 hits including Wilkos triple and got 3 unearned runs. Defensively we sat the first 11 Mulgrave batters down without letting any of them get on base but then the errors kicked in and really hurt us. Mulgrave got 12 hits, including 2 over the fence, and were given 8 unearned runs. After beating Bonbeach and Fitzroy in the last 2 weeks it was disappointing to go down by one in the grand final. Congratulations to Sean and the team for a good season that everybody has enjoyed. We can all have a rest for a while, well at least till winter starts. See you at presentation night. Until then all the best from the scribe.