The 2024 Aces Sporting Club Senior State Winter Championships came to a close on Monday with Geelong taking out the title for the second straight year.
First-place Geelong beat fourth-place Ringwood 8-2 in the semi-finals to advance to the grand final, while second-place MWBL City outlasted third-place Dandenong 6-2 to set up a final clash with the reigning champs.
Thank you to all the volunteers from GBA, East Belmont Saints, and Guild All-Stars who made the weekend possible and congrats to all the winners, MVPs, and participants on a job well done!
Check out available GameChanger recaps from the Senior SWC and catch up on the Women’s SWC finals HERE.
Senior SWC
Bendigo 7, MWBL Ringwood 6
Bendigo defeated Ringwood 7-6 on Monday morning after taking the lead late in the game. It was tied at six in the top of the fifth when a steal of home scored one run.
Bendigo built a four-run lead in the fourth inning and then held off Ringwood's charge as they closed the gap on an RBI double and an error.
Bendigo was first on the board in the opening frame after Ryan Spokes singled, Ajay Power was struck by a pitch, and Sebastion Smith grounded out, each scoring one run.
Ringwood tied it up at the bottom of the fourth on a double by Owen De'Vries, an error, and a wild pitch.
Jayson Strahan stepped on the mound first for Bendigo. He gave up four hits and two runs (one earned) over two and one-third innings, striking out two and walking two.
Nate Stevens started for Ringwood, giving up six hits and six runs (four earned) over three and one-third innings, striking out four and walking three.
Josh Brown tossed one and one-third innings of zero-run ball for Bendigo in relief, giving up zero hits and no walks with three strikeouts.
Brown set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading Bendigo with two hits in three at-bats. Power went 1-for-1 at the plate as the catcher led the team with two runs batted in. Brown stole three bases with nine total for the side.
Dylan Trevorah, Josh White, De'Vries, Aiden Burt, Dan Smith, and Jackson Hunkin each collected one hit for Ringwood. De'Vries and Smith drove in one run while White stole two bases.
Grand Final: Geelong 4, MWBL City 2
Geelong topped MWBL City 4-2 in the grand final after breaking through in the fourth on an RBI single by Addison Bishop-Worn.
City tied it up in the top of the sixth on two sacrifice flies before Connor Hughes singled to give Geelong a 3-2 lead in the bottom half.
Brayden Bebee started the game for Geelong, giving up two hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking one. Jordan Isbister appeared in relief.
Michael Formisano stepped on the bump first for City, giving up two hits and one run over four innings with six strikeouts and a walk.
Jordan Baumann led Geelong with two hits in four at-bats from the leadoff position. Hughes, Bishop-Worn, and Harper Rickard each drove in one run for Geelong while the defense turned a double play.
Kyle Douglas, Adam Merzel, Jack Daniels, and Tyler Luther-Wilson each collected one hit for City. Fraser Boyd and Dennis Neal each drove in one run.
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