The 2024 Junior League and Senior League State Championships are underway at Geelong Baseball Centre.
Thank you to Guild All-Stars and East Belmont Saints for hosting an action-packed weekend of baseball. Best of luck to all players - we hope you have an awesome time on the field!
Stay tuned to BV Facebook and Instagram for updates and check out Day 1 GameChanger recaps below.
Junior League
Mets 6, Twins 5
Mets narrowly beat Twins 6-5 on Friday. Twins were first on the board when a wild pitch scored two runs in the opening frame.
Mets took a 4-2 lead on two errors in the bottom of the first. A sacrifice fly by Jack Northfield made it 5-2 in favour of Mets by the end of the third.
George Steer opened the game for Mets, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) over four and one-third innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Parks Halasz and Cale Morris both pitched in relief.
Brody Stokes threw first for Twins, giving up two hits and four runs (zero earned) over two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout and two walks.
Lucas Joel drove the middle of the lineup, leading Mets with three runs batted in as the right-handed hitter went 1-for-3. Leadoff hitter Morris went 3-for-3 while Steer collected two hits in two at-bats.
Stokes led Twins with two hits in three at-bats from the leadoff position. Mason McKelvie, Eli Gunther, and Mitchell Liersch each drove in one run. Daniel Hwang and Stokes stole multiple bases with six total for the team, plus six walks. The defense turned one double play, too.
Rangers 9, Mets 5
Rangers defeated Mets 9-5 after jumping out to an early lead when Spencer Tyers hit an RBI single in the first.
Mets captured the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the first when Parks Halasz doubled, scoring two runs, Theo Hedt tripled, scoring one run, and Lucas Joel grounded out, scoring one run.
Rangers tied it up in the top of the second thanks to a walk by Jiah Cosgrove and a hit by pitch. Cliff Nelson's sacrifice fly gave Rangers a 5-4 edge in the fifth.
Connor McKenzie drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-5 Rangers in the sixth.
Ryder Ochoa pitched five innings in relief for Rangers, giving up one hit and zero runs with three strikeouts and three walks. McKenzie stepped on the mound first, giving up four hits and four runs (three earned) over one and one-third innings, striking out two and walking one.
Barrow started on the hill for Mets, giving up five hits and four runs over three and one-third innings, striking out four and walking four.
Rangers piled up 10 hits in the game as leadoff hitter Jonathan Park went 3-for-4. Neilson led the side with three runs batted in as the first baseman went 1-for-1. Tyers and Chase Potts collected multiple hits while Ochoa and Cruz Salerno had four of the team's nine walks. Park stole two bases.
Halasz provided pop in the middle of the lineup, leading Mets with two runs batted in going 1-for-2 on the day. Halasz, Hedt, Tyler Wood, Riley Harrington, and Edrin Berisha each collected one hit. Halasz stole two bases.
Athletics 11, Mariners 3
Athletics won big over Mariners, scoring in the first inning on an error, a walk by Hamish Willemsen, and groundouts by Nikau Galligan and Oliver Baillargeon.
Athletics added one run in the third after Ned Richards grounded out.
Richards started the game for Athletics, throwing two scoreless innings with no hits, six strikeouts, and one walk. Harvey Devlin pitched four and one-third innings in relief, giving up two hits and one run while striking out four and walking three.
Cooper Griggs started the game fro Mariners. The right-handed pitcher surrendered two hits and five runs (two earned) over one inning, striking out none and walking two.
Baillargeon and Oliver Von Tunk were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for Athletics. Alessio Petruzziello, Devlin, Galligan, Von Tunk, and Richards each collected one hit. Willemsen took two of the team's eight walks while Galligan and Michael Newman stole multiple bases.
Athletics were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Willemsen made the most plays with 13.
Fletcher Cowan, Griggs, Harper Slattery, and Tobey Browning each collected one hit for Mariners. Grayson Corrington, Kade Henry, and Griggs drove in one run while Slattery and Aiden Robey had multiple stolen bases. The team stole six bases and walked six times.
Twins 10, Mariners 0
Twins got started in the bottom of the second inning after Reeve Hammond grounded out and a wild pitch scored a run. A double by Daniel Hwang and a walk by Andy Zdihan helped them extend their lead in the third on the way to a 10-0 victory.
Twins scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth. Hwang singled, scoring one run, Zdihan lined out, scoring one run, and Mason McKelvie singled to score another. An error brought home one more run.
McKelvie led things off on the hill for Twins. The righty surrendered four hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out nine and walking two.
Mariners starter Harper Slattery gave up two hits and two runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking three.
Hwang and McKelvie each collected two hits for Twins. Hwang went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.
Twins totaled eight walks in the game with two apiece for Zdihan and Mitchell Liersch. Hwang, Brody Stokes, and Seth Stott all stole multiple bases with nine total in the game.
Twins were sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error.
Kade Henry, Oscar Rey-Benguigui, Slattery, and Aiden Robey collected one hit for Mariners. Henry and Rey-Benguigui stole multiple bases with six total for the team.
Rangers 15, Athletics 6
Rangers trailed by as many as four but came back to beat Athletics 15-6 on Friday.
Athletics opened the scoring in the top of the first after Ned Richards and Nikau Galligan got on base with singles. Oliver Von Tunk grounded out and Oliver Baillargeon singled, each scoring one run.
Rangers flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs on three hits to take a 5-4 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Jackson Burton on a full count to drive in one.
A lineout by Jonathan Park, a double by Burton, and a single by Chase Potts helped Rangers extend their early lead in the second. Rangers added to their lead in the third after Cruz Salerno walked and Blake Pickard singled, each scoring one run.
Park started on the hill for Rangers, giving up five hits and four runs over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking none. Burton, Cliff Neilson, and Spencer Tyers each threw scoreless innings in relief.
Baillargeon started on the mound for Athletics, allowing three hits and five runs over one inning with one strikeout and two walks.
Burton, Neilson, and Potts each collected two hits for Rangers. Burton and Potts were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, each driving in two runs.
Rangers tallied 10 walks in the game with two apiece for Tyers, Jiah Cosgrove, and Sam Stafilis. Burton, Park, and Stafilis stole multiple bases with 11 total in the game.
The winning defense was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit any errors. Stafilis made the most plays with seven.
Baillargeon, Alessio Petruzziello, Galligan, Harvey Devlin, Richards, and Jacob Turner each collected one hit for Athletics as Von Tunk led the team with two runs batted in.
Senior League
Twins 10, Mets 3
Twins won big over Mets 10-3 on Friday after opening the scoring with a big 2-RBI double off the bat of Marcus Murphy in the third.
Liam Coster started the game for Twins, giving up two hits over three scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a walk. Christopher Woodney, Fynn Murphy, and Iter Le Fevre appeared in relief.
Mets starter Cooper Bishop-Worn gave up two hits and two runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking four.
Le Fevre provided pop in the middle of the lineup, leading Twins with four runs batted in on a 2-for-4 day. Patrick Matthews had three of the team's 11 walks while Ryley Shanks and Matthews stole multiple bases with 10 total in the game.
Cruz Appeldorff went 2-for-3 from the number seven spot for Mets.
Mariners 11, Athletics 1
Mariners took care of business 11-1 over Athletics, getting on board in the first inning after Euan Clarkin tripled to score two runs.
Mariners scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. An error scored one run, Cai Batey-Smith hit an RBI single, Jarrod Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk, and Jesus Camacho plated two with a base hit.
The winning team added to their early lead in the bottom of the third after Clarkin and Thomas walked and Camacho singled, each scoring one run.
Thomas led things off on the mound for Mariners. The right-handed pitcher gave up three hits and one run (zero earned) over two innings, striking out three and walking two.
Charlie Dolan pitched three innings in relief for Mariners. The right-handed pitcher gave up one hit and zero runs with three strikeouts and two walks.
Athletics starter Declan Marshall gave up three hits and three runs over one and two-thirds innings with no strikeouts, just one walk.
Camacho, Lachlan Wright, and Ned Johnson each collected two hits for Mariners. Camacho and Clarkin drove in three runs apiece while Thomas paced the team with two out of seven walks.
Bailey Stewart, Ethan Kent, Angus Saggers, and Patrick Watson each collected one hit for Athletics. Kent stole two bases while the defense turned one double play.
Rangers 12, Mets 2
Samuel Walk collected three hits in three at-bats as Rangers defeated Mets 12-2 on Friday. Walk picked up base hits in the first, fourth, and fifth innings.
Rangers got on the board in the top of the first after Walk singled, Oliver Hill doubled and Buster Vos walked, each scoring one run. They added one more in the second on a double by Zak Stafilis.
Walk led things off on the mound for Rangers. The starting pitcher surrendered one hit and one run (zero earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one.
Vos tossed one inning of shutout ball for Rangers in relief. He gave up one hit, striking out one and walking none.
Mets starter Oscar Shimakura gave up tow hits and four runs (three earned) over one-third of an inning, striking out one and walking three.
Rangers tallied 10 hits in the game as Stafilis went 2-for-4. Ethan Johnston and Daniel Williams both stole multiple bases with six total on the team along with six walks.
Ryan Kinkade went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Mets in hits.
Mariners 8, Twins 5
Jesus Camacho collected three hits in four at-bats as Mariners defeated Twins 8-5 on Friday. Camacho singled in the first, fifth, and seventh innings.
Mariners got on board early in the first with Camacho's RBI base hit before Twins tied it up at one in the bottom frame on Liam Coster's bases-loaded walk.
A sacrifice fly by Joseph Browning gave Mariners the 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Twins made it 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Nate D'Atri doubled, scoring two runs, and Patrick Matthews drew a walk, scoring one.
Mariners flipped the game on its head in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs on two hits and an error to take an 8-5 lead.
George Elliott started the game for Mariners, giving up zero hits and one run over two innings with three strikeouts and five walks.
William Ferguson pitched three and one-third innings in relief for Mariners, allowing one hit and three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and two walks.
Matthews stepped on the hill first for Twins. The right-handed pitcher gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) over three and one-third innings, striking out two and walking three.
Jarrod Thomas paced Mariners with two out of eight walks while the defense turned one double play.
D'Atri and Coster each collected one hit and one RBI for Twins as Le Fevre also plated a run. Matthews had three of the team's 10 walks and four stolen bases, with eight total for the game.
Rangers 12, Athletics 10
There were runs aplenty on Friday afternoon as Rangers topped Athletics 12-10. Rangers collected 13 hits and Atheltics had two.
Samuel Walk had a strong eye at the plate in the win as the cleanup hitter walked three times in five plate appearances.
Rangers opened scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles, including an RBI base hit by Walk. Athletics tied it up in the bottom half with a walk by Angus Saggers and a groundout by Zachary Locklier.
Athletics took the lead in the bottom of the second. Declan Marshall singled, scoring two runs, to make it 4-2. Rangers tied it back up in the top of the third on an error and a walk by Buster Vos.
Athletics jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the third after Thomas King, Ethan Kent, and Lachlan Brennan walked, plus a dropped third strike and an error scored a run.
Rangers captured the 12-10 lead in the top of the seventh. Zak Stafilis, Jarvis Johansen, and Oliver Hill each singled and Joash Xavier walked, all scoring a run.
Stafilis stepped on the bump first for Rangers. He allowed one hit and four runs (three earned) over two innings, striking out none and walking three.
Sawyer Fisher led things off on the hill for Athletics. The righty allowed four hits and four runs (two earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one.
Ethan Johnston threw two innings of zero-run ball for Rangers in relief, allowing one hit with five strikeouts and three walks.
Rangers had 13 hits throughout the game as Johansen drove the middle of the lineup with two runs batted in on a 3-for-4 day for the third baseman. Johnston also had three hits while Stafilis and Walk had two apiece.
Walk paced Rangers with three of the team's nine walks and three stolen bases. They stole six total in the game.
Marshall and Declan Tayler each collected one hit for Athletics. Kent led the team with two runs batted in, plus three walks alongside Saggers. The team stole six bases.
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