That's a wrap on the 2024 Under 16 State Winter Championships, hosted by Latrobe Valley Baseball Association at Morwell Cougars and Traralgon Red Sox Baseball Clubs.
Congratulations to U16 State Winter Championship winners Diamond Valley (Division 1) and Latrobe Valley (Division 2)!
Diamond Valley defeated Ringwood 5-2 in the Div 1 grand final and Latrobe Valley won 12-7 over Diamond Valley in the Div 2 grand final.
Well done to MVPs: Kade Henry (Dandenong), Hunter Mudford (City West), Angus Saggers (Ringwood), Jack Northfield (Geelong), Ethan Kent (Diamond Valley Div 1), Makayla Poole (North East), Alex Smith (Latrobe Valley), Chase Messinger (Diamond Valley Div 2), and Fletcher Cain (Bendigo).
Thank you to all volunteers and supporters for an amazing weekend!
Check out Field of View Sports Photography images HERE and read Sunday GameChanger recaps below.
U16 Division 1
Dandenong 13, City West 4
Dandenong won big over City West 13-4 on Sunday at Traralgon, scoring early on an error and bases-loaded walks to Joash Xavier and Jensen Turner.
City West took the lead in the bottom of the first after Hunter Mudford singled, a HBP, and an error. Dandenong made it 8-4 their next time up.
Dandenong added five runs in the third on bases-loaded walks to Kian Yates and Hunter Rouse, plus a sacrifice fly by Henry.
City West starter Mudford gave up zero hits and struck out four in one and one-third innings.
Yates tossed two and two-thirds innings of no-run ball for Dandenong in relief, giving up one hit with two strikeouts and five walks.
Henry and Xavier were a one-two punch in the lineup, both driving in two runs for Dandenong. The team took 13 walks including two apiece for Finn Sculley, Yates, Xavier, and Turner. Henry and Yates stole multiple bases with nine total in the game.
Dandenong's defense turned one double play. Meanwhile, Mudford and Harley Chamberlain collected one hit and one RBI for City West. Jamieson also knocked in a run while Lacey Tompkins took two of the team's seven walks.
Ringwood 5, Geelong 0
Ringwood were triumphant over Geelong 5-0 on Sunday after scoring in the first inning on four walks. They added to their tally with a solo home run to left field by Angus Saggers in the fourth.
Saggers started the game for Ringwood, giving up zero hits and zero runs over two innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Connor Barron stepped on the mound first for Geelong, giving up three hits and four runs (zero earned) over two innings, striking out two and walking six.
Brian Gallagher and Archie Hooper came on in relief for Ringwood, shutting down Geelong.
Saggers, Gallagher, Nate Bugeja, Joseph Matyear, and Matthews each drove in one run for Ringwood. Gallagher took two of the team's six walks.
The winning defense didn't make any errors while Matyear had the most fielding chances with six.
Jared Loader led Geelong with one hit in one at-bats while Charlie Bell took two of the team's six walks.
Geelong 5, Dandenong 5
Geelong and Dandenong tied 5-5 on Sunday. Dandenong scored early in the top of the first inning after Joash Xavier drew a walk, scoring one run, an error scored two runs, and Jensen Turner singled, scoring one run. They added one run in the second after Kade Henry grounded out.
Geelong tied it up in the bottom of the third thanks to walks by Jared Loader and Edrin Berisha, a hit by pitch, and a walk by Cruz Appeldorff.
Ash Kaberry stepped on the bump first for Geelong, giving up four hits and five runs (one earned) over four innings, striking out three and walking four.
Xavier stepped on the hill first for Dandenong, giving up zero hits and five runs (four earned) over two innings, striking out two and walking seven.
Berisha, Appeldorff, Loader, and Connor Barrow each drove in one run while Geelong had a strong eye at the plate, tallying 10 walks in the game. Kaberry and Loader led the team with two bases on balls each.
Brooke Edwards, Hunter Rouse, Oscar Mckeown, and Turner each collected one hit for Dandenong. Turner went 1-for-2 and led the team with one run batted in, while Henry and Kian Yates stole multiple bases for six total in the game.
Diamond Valley 12, City West 0
Diamond Valley won big over City West 12-0 on Sunday, scoring in the first inning on bases-loaded walks to Marcus Murphy and Kalan Ellis plus a wild pitch.
They added five runs on one hit in the bottom of the second. Oliver Baillargeon singled, scoring three, an error scored one run, and Riley Harrington induced Darcy Squire to hit into a fielder's choice but one run scored. Two more runs scored in the third.
Baillargeon stepped on the mound first for DV, giving up zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking two. Ellis tossed one scoreless inning in relief, giving up one hit and three walks.
Murphy, Yang, Squire, Baillargeon, and Kent each drove in one run for Diamond Valley. Baillargeon went 1-for-1 and had two of the team's six stolen bases. Lachlan Brennan and Leo McAndrew took two walks each with 11 total in the game.
The DV defense didn't commit a single error as Squire made the most plays with three.
Ethan Castle led City West with one hit in one at-bat.
Consolation Final: Geelong 4, Dandenong 3
Geelong came back late, scoring on a wild pitch to take the 4-3 victory. Charlie Davenport grounded out, Reid Sexton hit into a fielder's choice, and Dandenong committed an error, each scoring a run for Geelong in the first.
Kade Henry hit a sacrifice fly to help Dandenong tie things up at the bottom of the fifth. The starting pitcher gave up one hit and three runs (two earned) over four innings, striking out four and walking six. He also led Dandenong with one hit in two at-bats.
Davenport led things off on the bump for Geelong, giving up one hit and three runs (one earned) over four and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking four.
Davenport and Sexton each drove in one run for Geelong while Jack Northfield took three out of the team's ten walks. The defense turned one double play.
U16 Division 2
Diamond Valley 2, Latrobe Valley 1
Diamond Valley took Sunday's game in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 walk-off victory over Latrobe Valley. The game was tied at one in the bottom of the third when Oliver Blakely drew a walk, scoring one run.
Both teams were strong on the bump. DV pitchers struck out four while LV sat down five.
A groundout by Liam Duncan put LV on the board in the top of the second. Kay Zhang walked to help DV tie it up at one in the bottom frame.
Rhys Rayner led things off on the hill for DV, with no hits or walks allowed in a scoreless inning, just two strikeouts. Hudson Castle appeared in relief.
LV starter Alex Smith gave up one hit and one run over one and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking two.
Chase Messinger went 1-for-2 at the plate to lead DV in hits. Zhang and Blakely each drove in one run.
DV had a strong eye at the plate, tallying nine walks for the game with two free passes for Jack Cooper-Blair and Castle.
Duncan led LV with one run batted in and two stolen bases. The defense was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error as Duncan made the most plays with six.
North East 8, Bendigo 5
North East opened scoring in the top of the first when Michael Nitisco singled, scoring one run. Bendigo quickly responded, scoring on an error, a fielder's choice by Zachary Banks-Broome, and a walk by Tahlia Dickinson, each scoring one run.
North East tied it up at three in the top of the second, although Bendigo soon made it 4-3 on an RBI single by James Grainger in the bottom half.
Four walks helped North East make it 8-4 in the third.
Alaric Tibbitt led things off for Bendigo, giving up three hits and two runs over one inning, striking out two and walking one.
Josh Wells, Cruz Wayneberg, and Grace Castello each appeared in relief for North East. Nitisco, Wells, and Wayneberg collected one hit each Nitisco, Wells, Sophie Berry, Castello, and Oscar Maiden drove in one run each.
North East had patience at the plate, collecting 11 walks for the game as Berry and Taylor Jones led with two walks each.
Grainger and Banks-Broome drove in one run apiece for Bendigo while Deon Strahan took two out of seven walks. Grainger also stole two bases with seven total in the game.
Diamond Valley 8, Bendigo 4
Diamond Valley prevailed 8-4 on Sunday after scoring in the first on Chase Messiner's RBI single and Nathan Love's 2-RBI double.
They added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Rhys Rayner doubled, Messinger singled, and Oliver Blakely grounded out, each scoring one run.
Rayner stepped on the hill first for Diamond Valley, allowing three hits and one run (zero earned) over four innings, striking out seven and walking six. Mathew Robinson and Henry Rossa appeared in relief.
Alaric Tibbett started the game for Bendigo, giving up eight hits and eight runs over four innings, striking out six and walking three.
Messinger led Diamond Valley with two hits in two at-bats, plus multiple stolen bases alongside Robinson, Hudson Castle, and Zach Papadimitriou for 11 total in the game.
Josh Ralston, Mason Strahan, and Zachary Banks-Broome each collected one hit for Bendigo. Strahan and Banks-Broome were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, both driving in one run.
Thomas Ward took three of Bendigo's 11 walks while Ralston and Tibbett stole multiple bases with eight total in the game.
Diamond Valley 11, North East 9
Despite seeing their seven-run lead whittled down by the end, Diamond Valley still held on for an 11-9 victory on Sunday. North East closed the gap on a couple of errors, a single, and a walk.
Diamond Valley opened scoring in the top of the first when Chase Messinger singled, scoring one run. They added five runs on two hits in the top of the third. Two errors and RBI singles to Hudson Castle and Rhys Rayner did the trick.
Kay Zhang started the game for Diamond Valley, giving up two hits and five runs (four earned) over two innings, striking out two and walking six. Messinger appeared in relief.
Cruz Wayneberg led things off on the mound for North East, allowing seven hits and 12 runs (three earned) over three innings, striking out four and walking five.
Messinger led Diamond Valley with two hits in two at-bats. Jack Cooper-Blair, Zhang, Castle, and Zach Papadimitriou drove in two runs while Nathan Love took two of the team's seven walks.
Messinger, Castle, Papadimitriou, and Oliver Blakely both stole multiple bases with 14 total in the game. Meanwhile, the defense turned one double play.
Wayneberg provided pop in the middle of the lineup, leading North East with four runs batted in on a 1-for-2 day. Wayneberg, Taylor Jones, Oscar Maiden, and Micheal Nistico collected one hit while Tanner Godenzi took three of the team's ten walks.
Wayneberg, Godenzi, Jones, Maiden, and Nistico stole multiple bases with 16 overall.
Latrobe Valley 5, North East 3
Latrobe Valley won 5-3 over North East after starting the scoring early. Harry Kus doubled and Connor McKenzie grounded out, each scoring one run in the first.
North East tied it up in the bottom frame thanks to a groundout by Cruz Wayenberg and a passed ball. A groundout by Josh Dortmans put Latrobe Valley back in front 3-2 in the top of the second.
Wayenberg grounded out, helping North East tie the game at three in the bottom of the second. Latrobe Valley broke up the tie in the top of the fourth when Kus singled, scoring one run. An error followed to extend the lead to 5-3.
McKenzie stepped on the hill first for Latrobe Valley, giving up one hit and two runs (zero earned) over one inning, striking out three and walking one. Alex Smith and Kus both appeared in relief.
Sophi Berry led things off on the mound for North East, allowing two hits and three runs over three innings with one strikeout and two walks.
Kus drove the middle of Latrobe Valley's lineup with two runs batted in on a 2-for-3 day. Liam Duncan stole two bases while the defense was sure-handed in the field and didn't make any errors. Lachie Marsh made the most plays with eight.
Josh Wells led North East with two hits in two at-bats. Oscar Maiden stole three bases.
Latrobe Valley 7, Bendigo 1
Latrobe Valley defeated Bendigo 7-1 on Sunday thanks in part to five runs in the fifth inning. Bendigo scored first on James Grainger's RBI single in the opening frame. Alex Smith helped Latrobe Valley tie it up at one in the top of the third.
Latrobe Valley took the lead in the top of the fourth as Cooper Boyes drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 2-1. They added five runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning with bases-loaded walks to Harry Kus, Connor McKenzie, Harry Russ, and Josh Dortmans. An error also scored a run.
Deon Strahan stepped on the mound first for Bendigo, giving up two hits and one run over three innings, walking three and striking out three.
Latrobe Valley starter Smith allowed two hits and one run (zero earned) over two innings, striking out five and walking one.
Grainger led Bendigo with one run batted in on a 1-for-2 day. Grainger and Josh Ralston each collected one hit.
Smith and Liam Duncan were a force together in the lineup, picking up two hits for Latrobe Valley. Smith, Jus, McKenzie, and Boyes each drove in one run while McKenzie took three of the team's 11 walks.
Consolation Final: North East 8, Bendigo 0
North East defeated Bendigo 8-0 on Sunday thanks in part to five runs in the first inning. Josh Wells singled, scoring two runs, Tanner Godenzi tripled, scoring two runs, and Oscar Maiden drew a walk, scoring one run.
Godenzi stepped on the hill first for North East, giving up one hit over four scoreless innings with a walk and eight strikeouts.
Archer Etherton pitched for Bendigo, giving up three hits and five runs with a strikeout and five walks.
Michael Nitisco and Godenzi were a force together in the lineup, both collecting two hits for North East while hitting back-to-back. Godenzi led North East with three runs batted in on a 2-for-3 day.
Maiden paced North East with three out of eight walks while Godenzi stole two bases (six total in the game). The winning side was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error as Wells made the most plays with eight.
Deon Strahan led Bendigo with one hit in two at-bats.
Grand Final: Latrobe Valley 12, Diamond Valley 7
Even though Diamond Valley collected nine hits to Latrobe Valley's three, LV came away with the 12-7 grand final victory.
LV jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first after Harry Kus was struck by a pitch with bases loaded and an error scored two more. They add to their tally with an error and a groundout in the second.
DV scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth. Nathan Clough drew a walk, Henry Rossa singled, and Jack Cooper-Blair grounded out, each scoring one run. Zach Papadimitriou singled and Rhys Rayner grounded out to also bring home runs.
Kus led things off on the mound for LV, giving up eight hits and seven runs (six earned) over three and two-thids innings, striking out three and walking two.
Chase Messinger drove the middle of the lineup, leading DV with two runs batted in on a 1-for-3 day. Hudson Castle picked up two hits and Papadimitriou stole two bases while the defense turned a double play.
LV's Connor Mckenzie had three runs batted in while Blake Duncan, Russ, and Kus collected one hit each. Liam Duncan took four of the team's eight walks and also stole multiple bases alongside Alex Smith and Kus for 13 total in the game. They had a double play on defense, too.
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