Match Reports
Seniors Round 8
25 November 2007
FIRSTS 3 def Bonbeach 2
When you get two evenly matched teams the result will often come down to which team manages to take it’s chances. Last weeks loss to Sandy exemplified this – we played better in just about every facet of the game except taking our chances.
Yesterday’s game reinforced just how critical it is to do the little things if you are going to win against any opposition, let alone quality teams.
The box scores show us winning by a run, 3 to 2. We had 8 hits, they had 9. We struck out 7 times, they had 6 K’s. We picked up 2 walks, they had just a hit batter. In every way the stats highlight just how close the game was. In the finish when we simply took advantage of one more scoring chance than they did.
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead picking up a run in 1st in slightly bizarre, but never the less heads up, fashion. Hoppy lead of with his standard single to left field and was bunted over by Nick Unland. Pete walked to make it 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Mistaking the 2 – 2 count as being full, Pete ran on the pitch. In the ensuing run down Hoppy moved to 3rd and then very heads up scored as the home team took about 6 throws to get Pete.
At the end of the day how crucial this may have been.
Andrew Jones was given the start following his fine performance last week and faced the minimum through the first two innings, cancelling a one hit in the 1st by picking the runner off.Leading of the 3rd Brendan Simmons crashed a huge drive into right centre alley and wound up on 3rd base. Hoppy’s second of four hits in the game made it 2 – 0.
Not to be outdone Bonbeach fought back immediately picking up 1 with good team play and a two out hit.
Another run scored by Boo on Nick’s single in our half of the 5th and we are leading 3 to 1. Andrew continued to control the strong middle part of Bonbeach’s lineup and even when they did manage to get runners in scoring position retained his composure and worked out of the innings.
Unfortunately for the Tigers despite a couple of good opportunities we couldn’t tack any insurance runs on and when Bonbeach picked up their 2nd run in the home half of the 7th on a triple followed by and infield out we were back in a one run game.
But the unflappable Jonesy continued to do what he had done all game. In total control of his pitches all game and well supported by our defence his complete game win was a just reward.
Good sides win one run games and we need to believe in our ability as players a lot more. Execute the basics – get leads off on; move them over and then drive them in. Pretty simple really.
We now have a key encounter with Fitzroy this Thursday in the early game at Altona where we look to build on the momentum gained by Sunday’s terrific win.
Upwey FTG 101 010 000 3 runs 8 hits 1 error
Bonbeach 001 000 100 2 runs 9 hits
Hits : Hopcraft 4; Simmons 2; Unland N, Oxworth 1 each RBI’s : Hopcraft, Unland N 1 each
Pitching : Jones 9IP 2 runs 2 Eruns 9 hits 6 K’s 0 BB
SECONDS 9 def Bonbeach 0
The Tigers went hunting and mauled their prey the Blue Jays with a 9-0 win!
With a similar line up from last week we went to Bonbeach to see if we could notch up another win and we did just that! Lucas Unland threw 6 complete innings to give up only 2 hits and face 23 batters. Fielding strengths came from a guy who normally leads from the mound Adrian Rice, who played at third base and came away with 4 outs and assists. Similarly David Hair behind the plate and Luke Everitt at shortstop each made easy outs to halt the Bluejays from flying around the bases.
Offensively we only managed 5 hits, spread throughout the line up as most of the runs scored were from errors from the mound as the pitching rotation for Bonbeach provided our guys with 9 base on balls, 7 wild pitches/pass balls and one hit by pitched ball. Way to take one for the team Molly!
Next week we face Ormond-Glenhuntly at home on Saturday and if we play like we did last time we met, well only good things can happen! Go Tigers!
THIRDS 3 lost to Bonbeach 14
On Sunday Sue and the scribe were enjoying the sunshine in Tasmania but I gather the 3rds had a harder day in the sun than we did. We are now back to playing teams we have seen before and we were up against Bonbeach.
Based on the score book (thanks again to Ben's mum, as always a work of art) we certainly did not have a big day with the bat. We only collected three hits and 3 runs for the game (Wozza, Ben and Scott) so very little to get excited about there.
Defensively we kept things under control for most of the game and the scores were level at 2 all after 3 digs. Bonbeach then decided to score a few runs and some red popped up in the book. They did however bat well and in the fourth dig put together a succession of hits and started to score runs. A double play (Andy Williams at short to Sean at second to Chris at first) to got us our first and second outs stopped most of the rot but they did score 5 runs.
They followed that up with 2 runs in the fifth and then 5 in the 6th to end up 14 to 3 winners. Way too much red in the book against us and not enough green when batting.
Not much more to say about the game other than to thank Bob Simonton for stepping in at the last minute to umpire for us rather than watch the fifths. Unfortunately they also went down.
But lets move on as it is less than a month to Christmas!!!!. We are still in second place on the ladder and play at Ormond Glenhuntly next Sunday. Congratulations to Jordie and Leigh on being selected in the Provincial's team for the national championships.
All the best from the scribe.
FOURTHS 16 def Bonbeach 6
FIFTHS 5 lost to Waverley 18
This week we faced Waverley on the back diamonds at home who are seated second on the ladder and this game was always going to be a tuff ask.
Our first innings saw our opponents put over one run. Defensively our outs where made by Tristan Mealy who was behind the dish caught a runner stealing at second, Narelle Quinn on the hill with a strike out and Joshua Yung taking a pop up a short.
In our first at bat we score one with Tim Annett put in the ball into play and getting on base, then stole second. Yours truly put one into the whole at short and Tim run aggressively and made it home.
In the second innings we retired our opponents 3 up 3 down with another strike by Narelle and routine ground outs to Tim at second and Joshua at short. Unfortunately we did same as our opponents with only three batters up to the plate in our innings.
In the third innings Waverly put over two run with 2 hits (1 bomb). Our outs this innings where made by Goose taking a fly ball out at left, Tim at second with a ground ball and Josh taking a pop up.
We took the lead in the bottom of the third with four runs across the plate with Joshua Yung starting the momentum with a nice lead off double to leftfield. Tim & Beau also chipped in with hits to score runners.
The start of the fourth we got he first batter out with a ground ball to Tim at second. With a walk and at hit Waverly had put over two runs to level. We got the two remaining outs with a force play a second by Tim and Yours truly with a ground out at third In our fourth batting innings we got some shot of the ball, just to there fielders.
In the fifth inning we lost the lead with Waverly building up well and putting over a run over. The out where made by Goose who swallowed two fly balls and Tim with another ground ball at second.
In the sixth our middle order was not able to come to grips with the new pitcher and we where sat down in order.
In Waverly’s sixth innings they started to work out Narelle’s pitching and with a couple of hits and an error or two they got four runs across the plate. Our outs where made with the usual fly ball caught by goose, yours truly throwing out the slower option at second and a force out by Scott Legge at first.
In the sixth we did not start well with the first two batters out. Then we had a small resurgence with hits to Tristan and Joshua, Scott picked a walk and all of a sudden we had the tying run in the on deck circle. Unfortunately it was not to be with our next batter striking out close down that chance.
Tim Annett was putt into the hill and give the job of shutting them down in the last innings. We where able to the first out fairly quickly with a ground ball to third which forced out he lead runner at second, then it all went wrong due to some errors, a couple of hits and the odd walk they we able to amass eight runs. Again as we did last week we did not back up the pitcher who was doing his bit to shut down the innings. The other defensive play this innings was a fly ball to Narelle now at second and a routine ground out for Joshua at short.
Hitting
Joshua Yung 3 (2db’s), Beau Jenkins 2 with singles to Leggy, Tristan and Tim.
Thanks to:-The eagle eyed senior chairman who found my glove!The three guys who helped us out as some of our players are on the Disabled List (one of which we taken out by his team mate!)
Being completive against these guys for most of the game was fantastic but it would have been even better to have gotten the win
Cheers
The forty year old fat rookie
WOMEN'S 7 lost to Doncaster 16