Match Reports
Seniors Round 18
24 February 2008
FIRSTS 13 def Mulgrave 3
The maths going into this game were fairly simple – a win and we would be certain of finals action, a loss by anything less than 15 and we would still finish in the four, and if we won and Fitzroy got over Sandy then we would finish second.
Sometimes when faced by a scenario such as this and particularly given that every game for us for weeks and in essence been a mini final, players can be a bit flat. Any chance of that was blown away in the first two innings when a brace of 5 spots effectively put the game safely in our keeping.
The Tiger hitters continued the dominance they have had over opposition hitters since the break picking up our 13 runs on 13 hits and at the same time collecting 7 walks and a hit batter. This in only 6 innings of offense.
Leon led the way with his 3 hits being a timely return to form, ably supported by Pete Schroeders and Scotty Groner with 2 hits a piece, Scotty from just 2 trips to the plate (before leaving the game for precautionary reasons) picking up 3 ribbies. Brendan Simmons, whilst not picking up a hit, also collected 3 RBI’s.
Hoppy only managed the one hit this week but collected 3 walks and Adam Helleren also picked up two free passes.
But the highlight of the day had to be Cheesies smash over the left field fence to pick up his first dinger of the season. Rumour has it he was still talking about on Sunday night. But seriously no one has worked harder this year than Brendan and it was nice to see him enjoy a little moment in the sun.
Defensively a couple of slight hiccups but also some good plays including a very well worked pitcher cover from Johhno and a nice DP (Boo to Chinny to Bonnsy) to end the game.
Rowan took the start and worked a very strong 5 innings conceding 3 runs on 7 scattered hits while striking out 2 before Jonesy took over and closed out the game giving up just 1 hit in his 2 innings of work.
Alas Sandy did the job on Fitzroy and we finish in 3rd – 2 games clear of 4th and a half game back of 2nd. This means a sudden death finals series for us starting with Fitzroy next Saturday at home.
See you all at the Tigerdome for what promises to be a great game.
Mulgrave 000 120 0 3 runs 8 hits
Upwey 551 101 X 13 runs 13 hits
Hits : Rice L 3; Schroeders, Groner 2; Hopcraft, Helleran, Kimberley, Oxworth, Cheesman, Chinn 1 each
RBI’s : Simmons, Groner 3; Helleren, Kimberley 2; Rice L, Oxworth, Cheesman 1 each
Pitching : Johnstone 5 IP 3 runs 3 eruns 7 hits 2 BB 2 K’s
Jones 2 IP 0 runs 0 eruns 1 hit 2 BB 1 K
SECONDS 3 lost to Fitzroy 9 in the 2nd Semi-final
Not a lot to say really about this weeks game............
The boys took on Fitzroy in the 1st week of the finals. After a win and a loss to them this season the game looked to be a nail bighter, however Fitzroy had other plans jumping on top early with 3 in the 1st.
Lucas had the start and had trouble from the get go but got out of the inning reasonably ok. The boys then put 2 of their runs up on the board with a leadoff walk to Jono, a stolen base then some hard hit balls by Bonsy, Lewy, Swanno and Willo kept it close for the 1st inning but that was about the only confident offence for the day.
After that the bats went to sleep. The team recorded 4 hits for the game, 8 strike outs and a handfull of errors. All of which was uncharacteristic for the Tigers. Moly came in to pick up Lucas but by then the boys showed no fight. Molly threw the last 6 only allowing only 1 earnt run but could not get any run support from his offense.
A dissappointing effort on the weekend should give the boys a bit of a wake up call with the rematch of last years grand final against
Mulgrave in the knock out final on Sunday. Hopefully the boys can pull it together and get over last weeks match and earn a place in the Grand Finale where they truley belong.
Ayresy
Preliminary final Sunday against Mulgrave @ Upwey 1:30pm
THIRDS 7 def Bonbeach 6 in 1st Semi-final
Finals baseball is a lot different to the games played in the home and away season and there was a big crowd at the outer ground to watch the thirds take on Bonbeach in a must win game. The crowd was so big that Wozza mum was sitting at centre field, perhaps she knew what was going to happen later in the game.
Top 1 and we start with Ricey on the mound pitching to Jordie, with Chris at first, Yoda at second, Sean at third, Andy (just married a week and back playing baseball, what the??) at short and Wilko, Scott and Wozza patrolling the lush outfield and Ashie on the bench. Bonbeach are big hitters and the first 2 batters gave us a taste of what the game was going to be about. Scott takes a Sac fly for the first out. Andy has a hand in the next 2 outs as we sit the Bluejays down with 2 runs in the book. Bottom 1 and after a bit of a stumble we get a runner on via a walk for Sean, Ricey gets a hit to centre field, Scott also gets a walk but gets batted into an out at second as Chris gets to first and scores Sean. Jordie then goes whack and gets a double to centre field scoring Ricey but Chris goes out at home trying to get that extra base. 2 all after one dig with the Bluejays getting fired up about calls at first.
Top 2 and some red in the book (b….y h..l) as Bonbeach score 2 unearned runs after we get the first batter out Andy to Chris. A put out at third for Sean and another Andy to Chris sits the Bluejays down with no more damage. We went 4 up 3 down with no runs. Top 3 and the Bluejays also go 4 up 3 down however a batter did put one over the cones at left field to give them a 1 run lead. Bottom 3 and 3 up 3 down for the Tigers. Top 4 and 2 up 2 down for the Bluejays, including a high fly ball catch by Jordie, before we get to the top of their order again and they go whack, whack, whack and score 1 before another catch at centerfield for Scott sits them down. Bottom 4 and 5 up 3 down with no runs for the tigers as we left runners on base.
Top 5 and 2 up 2 down before a couple of hits sees Bluejays runners on base but they ended up being stranded. Sean and Chris sharing in all the outs for this dig, including a catch for each and a 5 to 3. Bottom 5 and we are at the top of our batting order and Wilko gets a single base hit to right field, Sean follows up with a hit to left field but then a couple of outs. Chris hits one deep to left field that scores both Wilko and Sean as we get a couple of runs back. Bluejays 6, Tigers 4 after 5 and no more runs in the 6th as both teams go 3 up 3 down.
Crunch time has now arrived. Top of the 7th and last dig as we sit the Bluejays down with catches to Ashie, now on at second, Wozza (was that a that’s my boy coming from centre field) and ever reliable Scott at centre field. The maths for the Tigers was now very simple. 2 runs down, bottom of the seventh, so score 2 to stay alive or 3 to win. Wilko starts us off with a hit to right field, Sean goes out via a running catch deep in centre field and then Ricey gets walked. The Bluejays then decide to change their pitcher and the first batter up, Scott, gets on via a hit pitched ball. The equalising run is now at second and the winning run is at first base with one out. Chris scores Ricey but goes out at first. Jordie gets walked as Wozza comes up to bat with bases loaded and 2 out with the equalising run at third. Wozza then gets his first hit for the day and puts it deep into the left field corner. He scores Ricey as well as Scott running, like a speeding gazelle, from second to get the winning 7th run. Sue Ann, after clenching her knuckles and having her heart in her mouth, is jumping for joy shouting “That’s my boy.” The tigers fans, and there are a lot of them, clap long and hard to celebrate another great come from behind win against the Bluejays.
Offensively, 2 singles for Wilko, doubles for Chris, Jordie and Wozza (to get us the win) and singles for Sean and Ricey. The Bluejays got 11 hits for the game compared to our 7. However, the run score is a Tigers win as the Bluejays gave us 7 walks and 2 hit pitched balls, whereas Ricey did not give up any bases on walks or otherwise. Defensively the errors in the second were the only blemish for the game. In a real team effort 9 out of the 10 players got either an assist or an out. We pitched well and the 6th dig was a big one for Ricey who picked up the first 2 batters via 1 to 3 outs then finished off the scoreless dig with a strike out. 4 assists / outs for Andy at short and 3 outfield catches for Scott at centre field. We now take on the Fitzroy lions next week to keep our finals momentum going. Until then all the best from the scribe.
WOMENS 23 def Doncaster 5
This puts the girls into 3rd place on the ladder and will play Port Melbourne next weekend in the elimination Semi Final. Good luck girls and congratulations on making the finals.