The 2023 U16 State Winter Championship wrapped up with a great day of finals in Latrobe City, as Diamond Valley (Pool 1) and Latrobe Valley (Pool 2) came away with grand final glory.
Well done to all participants on an awesome weekend of baseball and thank you to the volunteers at Traralgon and Morwell Baseball Clubs for the warm welcome.
A special mention to the MVPs:
- Pool 1 - Ethan Kent (MWBL Diamond Valley), Angus Saggers (MWBL Ringwood), Miles Paulley (Geelong), Cooper Bishop-Worn (MWBL City West), Takuma Yamane and Angus Walsh (Dandenong)
- Pool 2 - Ryan Kinkade (Bendigo), Kayden Hicks (Latrobe Valley), Marcus Murphy (MWBL Diamond Valley), Ollie Chambers (North Eastern)
Head to GameChanger for full results and check out recaps below.
Pool 1
MWBL Diamond Valley 16, MWBL City West 3
City West watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 16-3 loss to Diamond Valley on Sunday. Diamond Valley took the lead on a Kycen Dowling groundout in the first inning.
City West notched three runs in the fourth inning with RBIs for Fletcher Wilson and Luke Overington.
Diamond Valley scored five runs in the fourth inning. The offensive onslaught was led by Roman Coote, Ethan Kent, Windsor Breckenridge, Brody Stokes, and Lachlan Brennan, all driving in runs in the frame.
Coote led things off on the pitcher's mound for Diamond Valley. The hurler went four innings, allowing three runs on one hit with five strikeouts.
Finn O' Neill toed the rubber for City West. The pitcher surrendered six runs on five hits over one inning, striking out two. Rhys Rayner and Overington entered the game from the bullpen, each throwing one-third of an inning.
Hunter Mudford led City West with one hit in one at-bat.
Diamond Valley tallied ten hits, including two apiece for Breckenridge, Coote, and Lincoln Grech.
The winning side didn't commit a single error in the field. Grech had six chances, the most on the team, and also led with three of 11 stolen bases.
Geelong 10, Dandenong 6
Geelong nabbed the lead late in the game in a 10-6 victory over Dandenong on Sunday. The game was tied at five with Geelong batting in the bottom of the fourth when Ash Kaberry singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.
Dandenong scored five runs in the fourth inning, but Geelong still managed to pull out the victory. William Ferguson, Hunter Richardson, Jesus Camacho, and Takuma Yamane all sent runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.
Geelong fired up the offense in the first when Riley Peoples doubled on a 1-0 count to score two runs.
Peoples led Geelong to victory on the pitcher's mound. Peoples surrendered one run on zero hits over one inning, walking one. Peoples recorded the last three outs to earn the save.
Aonghus Walsh took the loss for Dandenong. Walsh lasted three innings, allowing six hits and ten runs while striking out four.
Miles Paulley started the game for Geelong. The fireballer allowed six hits and five runs over three and a third innings, striking out two.
Peoples went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Geelong in hits.
MWBL Diamond Valley 13, Geelong 3
Geelong scored three runs in the third inning with a walk by Brandon McDowall and an error on a ball put in play by Miles Paulley.
Diamond Valley had a big third inning as well, scoring five runs with RBIs for Bailey Stewart, Windsor Breckenridge, Lachlan Brennan, Brody Stokes, and Andy Zdihan.
Patrick Matthews was on the mound for Diamond Valley. The pitcher lasted two innings, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out one and walking zero.
Thomas Rome led things off on the mound for Geelong. Rome allowed four hits and eight runs over one and one-third innings, striking out one. Patrick Johnston threw one-third of an inning in relief.
Riley Peoples, Johnston, and Allistaire Lang each collected one hit to lead Geelong.
Diamond Valley tore up the base paths, as four players stole at least two bases. Brennan led the way with two.
Dandenong 10, MWBL Ringwood 1
Ringwood watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 10-1 loss to Dandenong on Sunday. Dandenong scored on a single by Brooklyn Riwaka-Kinney and a single by Jesus Camacho in the first inning.
Dandenong scored five runs in the fourth inning with singles by Riwaka-Kinney and Kai McDonald and a double by Hunter Richardson.
Takuma Yamane got the start for Dandenong. Yamane lasted five innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out six and walking zero.
Jonathan Park was on the mound for Ringwood. The bulldog lasted three and a third innings, allowing 12 hits and ten runs while striking out three and walking zero. Angus Saggers threw one inning in relief.
Saggers led Ringwood with two hits in three at-bats.
Dandenong saw the ball well today, racking up 13 hits in the game. Harry Brodie went 3-for-3 as Richardson, Aonghus Walsh, and Riwaka-Kinney had multiple hits, too.
MWBL City West 9, Dandenong 8
Dandenong stayed in it until the end, but City West pulled away late in a 9-8 victory on Saturday. The game was tied at seven with City West batting in the top of the fifth when an error scored one run for City West .
Dandenong collected eight hits and City West had nine in the high-scoring affair.
Dandenong got their offense started in the first inning when Jesus Camacho tripled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs.
City West scored five runs in the fourth inning. Finn O' Neill, Cooper Bishop-Worn, Fletcher Wilson, and Charlie Dolan all sent runners across the plate with RBIs.
Hunter Richardson led things off on the pitcher's mound for Dandenong. The hurler surrendered two runs on three hits over three innings, striking out two. Harry Brodie and Brooklyn Riwaka-Kinney entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one inning and one-third of an inning, respectively.
Dandenong collected eight hits on the day. Brodie went 3-for-3 and Riwaka-Kinney had two hits and three of the team's stolen bases.
City West racked up nine hits in the game. O' Neill, Parks Halasz, and Christopher Woodney all collected multiple hits.
Grand Final: MWBL Diamond Valley 4, Geelong 2
Diamond Valley took home a 4-2 victory over Geelong in the grand final. The winners fired up the offense in the first inning as Windsor Breckenridge doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.
Breckenridge pitched Diamond Valley to victory. The fireballer went four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out nine. Ryley Shanks and Kycen Dowling entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Riley Peoples took the loss for Geelong. Peoples surrendered four runs on four hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking zero.
Lachlan Brennan went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Diamond Valley in hits. The team was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error as Liam Campbell made the most plays with 12.
Allistaire Lang led Geelong with two hits in three at-bats.
Pool 2
Semi-Final: MWBL Diamond Valley 7, North Eastern 3
Diamond Valley won 7-3 against North Eastern on Sunday, although the latter got things started first when Michael Nistico grounded out, scoring one run.
Diamond Valley evened things up at two in the bottom of the first inning. Josh Antonacci grounded out, scoring one run.
Diamond Valley pulled away for good with two runs in the second inning. Ollie Chambers induced Fynn Murphy to hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored.
Marcus Murphy led things off on the mound for Diamond Valley. The hurler surrendered two runs on one hit over one inning, walking one.
Chambers was on the hill for North Eastern. The pitcher went three and a third innings, allowing seven runs on five hits and striking out two.
Murphy, Antonacci, Xavier Gardner, and Zac Locklier each managed one hit to lead Diamond Valley. Murphy led Diamond Valley with two of the team's eight stolen bases.
Angus Weal led North Eastern with one hit in three at-bats.
Semi-Final: Latrobe Valley 10, Bendigo 3
Latrobe Valley coasted to a 10-3 victory on Sunday, pulling away for good with five runs in the third inning.
Connor McKenzie drew a walk, scoring one run, Alexander Smith singled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two runs, Ryan Glass grounded out, scoring one run, and Logan Maier singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run.
Latrobe Valley added five runs in the fourth inning, led by Jack Thomas, Kaden Hicks, Harrison Kus, Smith, and Glass all with RBIs.
Smith got the start for Latrobe Valley. The bulldog allowed four hits and three runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and walking one.
Ryan Kinkade was on the pitcher's mound for Bendigo. He allowed two hits and zero runs over one and one-third innings, striking out two and walking one. Alaric Tibbett threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Latrobe Valley collected six hits with two apiece for Hicks and Smith. Latrobe Valley stole 15 bases during the game as five players stole more than one. Hicks led the way with three.
Kinkade went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Bendigo in hits.
Grand Final: Latrobe Valley 8, Diamond Valley 2
Diamond Valley lost the lead late in an 8-2 defeat to Latrobe Valley on Sunday afternoon. The game was tied at two with Latrobe Valley batting in the top of the third when Xavier Gardner induced Tom Duncan to hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored.
Diamond Valley got their offense started in the first with a Marcus Murphy single.
Jarrod Thomas led things off on the pitcher's mound for Latrobe Valley. The fireballer surrendered two runs on three hits over four innings, striking out five.
Zac Locklier led things off on the mound for Diamond Valley. The bulldog surrendered one run on two hits over two innings, striking out two. Josh Antonacci threw one inning in relief.
Murphy, Tom King, and Locklier each managed one hit to lead Diamond Valley.
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