Match Reports
Seniors Round 4
28 October 2007
FIRSTS 6 lost to Fitzroy 10
The Tigers ventured to Merri Park to take on Fitzroy who were top of a list of six clubs all with a 2-1 record.
Rowan Johnstone got the start and pitched very well through the first 4 innings holding the home side to just the one run picked up in the bottom of the 4th.
The Tigers pulled off that rarest of defensive plays in the 3rd – a triple play - to bail themselves out of a potential jam. With 2nd and 3rd occupied and nobody out the hitter dribbled the ball down the 3rd baseline. Brendan Simmons made a great play to pick the ball up before it ran foul and throw to Leon for the out. The runner from 2nd found himself almost at 3rd but the runner originally on 3rd at not gone in. Leon up to Nick Unland for the 2nd out and then to Hairy at the plate to complete the triple.
With the bats we started off ok picking up 1 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th to take a 4 to 1 lead into the 5th inning. It could have been more when Leon’s long ball to centre field was ruled a ground double on the Fitzroy centre fielder’s call. After the game someone out on the fence advised us that the ball had in fact gone out .
In the bottom of the 5th and still going ok the Fitzroy hitters managed to get on top of Rowan and Sean Meldrum took over. Rowan’s immediate playing status is a little uncertain due to possible surgery on his wrist. His work ethic to date has been fantastic and we will sorely miss him if he is out of the line up for a prolonged period.
While Fitzroy consolidated it’s lead tacking on 2 in both the 6th and 7th while our bats were held quiet from the 5th through the 7th before adding on 1 in both the 8th and 9th, the latter courtesy of a huge home run by Leon.
Molly pitched well in his 2 innings of work and really was squeezed by what appeared to be a shrinking strike zone as the game went on before Adrian Rice took over to finish of the game.
While we should be disappointed with our current 2 and 2 position we need to be objective about how we improve on this. With the talent we have in our line up it is up to everyone to do their own job and not sit back and rely on those that are in hot form to deliver. Do the little things, move runners over, get a run scoring ground ball when it is needed. It is all about contribution and execution.
Upwey 001 300 011 6 runs 12 hits 2 errors
Fitzroy 000 152 200 10 runs 10 hits
Hits : Hopcraft, Kimberley, Rice L, 3; Simmons 2; Cheesman 1 RBI’s : Kimberley 3; Hopcraft 2; Rice L 1
Pitching :
Johnstone 4.67 IP 5 hits 3 K’s 3 BB 5 Eruns
Meldrum 2 IP 5 hits 2 K’s 2 BB 3 Eruns
Rice A 1.33 IP 0 hits 1 K 1 BB 0 Eruns
SECONDS 9 lost to Fitzroy 10
Our first loss for the year and not a very honorable at that. 10-9 down to a team not that great but it just goes to show that unless you turn up to play and have your mind on the job then you will get beaten. Sloppy errors in the field and some bad decisions in the field was only part of it.
Some very poor at bats with runners in scoring position cost us dearly. Some bright points from the game were Bonsy's pitching and we laid down some good bunts at times to keep us in the game. But apart from that, not much to rave about.
WE MUST BOUNCE BACK NEXT WEEK and come to the game with our minds on thejob BOYS.
THIRDS 17 lost to Fitzroy 20
Sundays game proved to be a real challenge given the extremely windy conditions and the Fitzroy batters were going whack, whack, whack all day. Fortunately we also did a fair bit of whacking ourselves and the crowd were often on their feet cheering. Ben’s mum was getting really excited particularly as Ben scored an infield home run and his next at bat he gets home safe in a cloud of dust and bodies at home plate. It is meant to be a relaxing time watching your kids play sport.
Top 1 and we started with Wilko on the mound pitching to Graham Ashburn with Peter Williams at first, Yuley at second, Ben Lewis at third, Andy Williams at short stop and Wozza, Sean and Chris Gray being the outfield. Fitzroy started very aggressively both with the bat and running the bases which combined with a couple of walks sees them scoring 6 runs. The very windy conditions was making it difficult including for the scribe who was sharing the umpiring duties. The outfielders got the worst of the conditions as the ball was swirling round all over the place. Sean took a catch a centre field that was originally going to the right field. Bottom 1 and we responded with hits to Sean, Graham, Chris, Andy, and Wilko as we get 4 runs back with some aggressive base running.
Top 2 and Wilko has to come off with an injury, Graham takes over pitching, Ben comes into catch and Liam High is into the game. Unfortunately the Fitzroy whacking continues including a 3 run home run for Fitzroy that went over Wozza’s head, and the fence, at left field. The strong wind certainly helped get that one over. Fitzroy put together 8 successive hits to score 7 for the dig but the battle of the bats was to continue. Bottom 2 and lead off batter is Ben who puts one deep into the right field corner, then he runs like the wind (bit of a theme here) to score an infield home run. The crowd (and his mum) were on their collective feet yelling encouragement as he came home. Although he was the only one to score the crowd was certainly getting into the game big time.
Top 3 and Fitzroy start off with 2 double base hits, one bouncing over the fence as the ground is very hard and they were still going whack at the ball. Another 3 runs for the Roy boys but Ben and Yuley stopped the rot of base stealing as they get a runner out trying to steal second. Bottom 3 and Liam gets a hit but then a double play as we go 2 down. Then the real fun started as Yuley then Wozza hit singles, Ben scores Yuley, Sean scores Wozza, Ben gets home on an error ( and mums getting excited again), Graham scores Sean with a double that also bounces over the fence, Chris scores Graham as we score 5 unearned runs. Yes, errors do hurt with the score 16 to 10 after 3 digs.
Top 4 and Peter takes a foul fly to retire the first batter, Wozza takes a running, and I mean running , fly at left field, keeping the ball in the tip of his glove. then Graham picks up a strike out to shut the Roy boys down for no runs. Bottom 4 and unfortunately no joy for us on the score board despite a single base hit for Peter and a double to Wozza.Top 5 and who is this approaching the mound, none other than secret weapon Sean. 2 up, 2 down but then the whacking , including some double base whacking starts again. This combined with an error sees the Roy boys score 4 and we need to score 11 to win. Rather than just give up we came out with bats and legs a blazing. Sean leads off with a double to left field, then Graham gets a double to centre to score Sean, Chris gets walked, Liam gets on courtesy of a fielders choice, Graham and Chris both score on errors including Chris advancing 3 bases on a wild throw that went down to right field, Peter scores Liam, and Yuley gets on via a hit pitched ball. Wozza goes out on an infield fly that saw a fair bit of confusion on the field, then Ben gets on via a hit pitched ball, Sean gets walked and scores Peter, and Graham gets his second base hit for the dig and scores Yuley and Ben. Unfortunately the run scoring then stopped as we end up going down 20 to 17 in a very entertaining game played in trying conditions.
Congratulations to umpire Searle who certainly will remember his first game umpiring for a while. Congratulations also to Baseball Victoria for increasing the umpire numbers. We are currently second on the ladder just in front of Fitzroy on percentage. Next week is the clash for top of the ladder at Mulgrave, so bring your best game and cheering along. See you there from the scribe.
FOURTHS 1 lost to Fitzroy 20
FIFTHS 27 def Blackburn B 4
Well what a difference two weeks and a couple of new players make! This week saw the debut of 4 new players to the club Mark Gottchling, Rob Jones, Tim Watson & Brian Gagle. In the first innings Blackburn where able to get on the board with a couple of runs due to a walk and a stand up double. Once Chin found his rhythm he was able to finish off there innings with three strike outs. For our first at bat we scored four runs with a mix of hits, walks and moving around on passed balls. The second inning saw Chin struck out the first batter, and then the second batter was able to get on with a drop third strike that did not go to plan. This runner stole second and then third. With a ground ball hit to short the runner did not count on Bobby’s gun arm and was tagged out at the plate by Rob Jones. The third out was from a pop fly with Chin camped under. Our second innings was again a mix of a coupe of hits but mainly walks and passed balls with us able to but seven runners over the plate. Defensively the third innings was our best as we dropped them in order with Chin striking out the first batter and the other two outs came from the gun second baseman “Gotchy” with a ground out and then camping under a pop up (no mean feet in the gale force winds).
Our third batting innings we put eight runs on the board with a hugh bomb by Tim Watson (one bounce into the wooden fence.) it probably would have been out of there without any assistance from the wind. This innings was better than our first as we started to hit instead of walks getting walks.
In Blackburn’s forth innings they where able to get two runs with a walk and a hit. Defensively Chin struck out the first batter, the second out came to Jones at first base who was resting his knees after catching. The third out was a routine ground ball to “Gotchy” a second. Saving the best for last was with our last bat yielded 2 bombs (possibly wind assisted) from Rob Jones and Mark Gotchling. And a smattering of doubles and good solid shots in the gaps. Scoring a total of eight runs to finish off the game.
Hitting - M.Gottchling 5 (1HR, 1db), T.Watson 4 (1HR,2db), R.Jones 2 (1HR), Gin Chin Yu Wu 2, Steve Legge 2 (1db), and R.Simonton 1. RBI’s M.Gottchling 3, T.Watson 3,Gin Chin Yu Wu 3, Scott Legge 2, Rob Jones 2, B. Jenkins 2, Steve Legge 1.
Pitching - Gin Chin Yu Wu 4IP 3H 6K 3 BB 4 ERuns
Thanks to:-Eva for umpiring the game.Jones for putting his hand up to sit behind the dish (a beer and couple of hours in the spa and you will be right mate!)
The forty year old fat rookie
WOMEN'S 22 def Waverley 4